Gov. Murphy Orders NJ Masks Outside When Not Social Distancing

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday said he's ordering people to wear masks outside if they can't social distance.

Murphy told MSNBC's Morning Joe that face coverings are a "game-changer" and the policy has to change. The order, which he signed on Wednesday, comes after Patch released results of its survey that sought New Jersey residents' opinions on wearing masks (see below).

"We’re gonna turn that up a notch today and say, 'We’re gonna ask you: If you can’t socially distance, it’s gonna be required,' " Murphy said.

The exceptions will be:

• If you're eating outdoors at a restaurant
• Anyone whose health is in danger because of a mask
• Children under the age of 2

Murphy also told "Morning Joe" that you're not going to get cited if you're by yourself or with your family. But if you're congregating "with a lot of other folks and there's no social distancing, you're going to at least get a warning, if not something stronger," he said.

Murphy did seem to indicate that the rule will also not apply to sports or related activities, saying that people will be allowed to use their judgment if they stay in their "bubbles," or if they undergoing strenuous exercise.

Murphy said he's seen a backslide because of lack of social distancing, noting that the state's coronavirus rate of transmission has gone up. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Coronavirus Warning As State Backslides

Here's what else you should know about the mask order:

• People must wear face coverings in outdoor public spaces when it is not practicable to socially distance and keep a 6-foot distance from others, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners.
• People must wear face coverings in indoor spaces that are accessible to members of the public, such as retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses, areas of government buildings open to the public, and mass transit buses, trains, and stations, again with exceptions for health reasons and children under 2.
• Situations when wearing a face covering would inhibit a person's health include when an individual is engaging in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic activities, when in the water, and in other situations where the presence of a mask would pose a risk to the individual’s safety.
• Indoor commercial spaces that are not open to members of the public, such as office buildings, must have policies that at a minimum, require individuals to wear face coverings when in prolonged proximity to others.
• Child care centers, other child care facilities, and youth summer camps are not governed by this order
• Practices and competitions for sports defined as “Low Risk” by the Department of Health’s “Guidance for Sports Activities” are permitted in both outdoor and indoor settings. No-contact practices for sports defined as “High or Medium Risk” are permitted to resume in outdoor and indoor settings.
• Contact practices and competitions for sports defined as “Medium Risk” are permitted to resume in outdoor settings only.
• Contact practices and competitions for sports defined as “High Risk” remain prohibited in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Murphy did tell NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that he believes there should be a national mask order, saying: "It's become almost not even debatable, certainly when you're going out and absolutely indoors."

"If you're leaving your house, put on a mask," he said. "I think it should be a national requirement." Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

This past week, we asked Patch readers across New Jersey to weigh in on their feelings about masks. Questions were aimed to gauge how often our readers wear masks, if they'd like to see children wear them to school, and if they believe businesses should refuse service to those not wearing them. We also asked our readers how they think their local and state leaders have handled the pandemic response.

More than 16,500 people responded to this informal survey, with the majority supporting mask wearing as an essential safety precaution during the pandemic.

According to the Patch survey, more than 76 percent who took it say they "always" wear a mask in public. Just 4.7 percent of respondents say they "never" wear a mask.

When asked how often respondents see others in public wearing masks, just about 15.9 percent said "always." The majority of respondents — 47 percent — said they see others wearing masks in public "more than half of the time."

We also asked: Do you think restaurants, retailers and other businesses should refuse entry to people not wearing masks?

More than 81 percent of respondents said yes. Just about 18.2 percent said no.

When it comes to mask wearing in schools, the feelings were mixed.

We asked: When public schools reopen in the fall, do you think students, teachers and staff should be required to wear masks?

Nearly 45 percent said they believe students and staff should wear masks when social distancing cannot be observed. Nearly 37 percent of respondents said masks should be required all day in school.

Nearly 19 percent said there should be no mask requirement in schools.

Feelings were even more mixed when parents were faced with the question of whether the masking rules would impact their decision to send their children back to school in the fall.

Of the 16,522 responses, 12,506 responded to the following question:

For those with school-age children: If masks were not required when schools reopen, would you consider keeping your children out of school?

More than 28 percent said the mask requirements would not impact their decision to send their child back to school. One third of the respondents were unsure, and 38.2 percent said they would consider keeping their children home if masks were not required.

Of those who responded, nearly 70 percent said no one in their immediate family or social circle has tested positive for COVID-19. Most say they're just moderately to very concerned with catching the virus.

The majority of respondents had a favorable assessment of how state and local authorities have handled the pandemic.

More than 27 percent of respondents rated the local government response a five — the highest rating in the survey. Nearly 35 percent rated the response a four. Nearly 11 percent have been very dissatisfied with the response, giving state and local authorities a one — the lowest rating.