Mask Mandates Return To NJ Towns As COVID Spreads

NEW JERSEY — 2022 is almost here, New Jersey. But as New Year’s Eve approaches, residents in some towns and cities may be experiencing a flash of déjà vu as local officials bring back indoor mask mandates.

The goal? To slow the spread of the coronavirus, including the omicron and delta variants, officials say.

State officials aren’t currently requiring face masks indoors — only “recommending” that people wear them. But in recent weeks, several municipalities in North Jersey have gone a step beyond, reviving local indoor mask mandates as cases of COVID-19 rise. Read More: Highest-Ever COVID Case Numbers Recorded In NJ

As of Thursday, the list includes:

EAST ORANGE — East Orange’s mandate went into effect Dec. 22 and will be enforced "until further notice." It requires all people over 3 years old to wear a mask while in any indoor public facility, and to wear one outdoors when maintaining a proper social distance from others isn't possible. The mandate includes all residents, visitors, employees and vendors operating within any of the city's establishments. Read More: COVID Testing Megasite In East Orange Will Serve All NJ Residents

HOBOKEN — Hoboken has re-instituted a mask mandate for any business or public building starting Wednesday, "except when actively eating or drinking." The mandate applies to everyone over age 2. There are other exceptions, such as for those who can distance from everyone for at least 6 feet for an extended period. Read More: Indoor Mask Mandate Issued For Hoboken, With Exceptions

MAPLEWOOD — Maplewood announced last week that the Township Committee has approved a mandate for people to wear masks in all indoor settings, except while eating. The mandate applies to both businesses and public settings, for everyone over 2. There are exceptions to the mask mandate for those who have a medical exemption. Read More: Indoor Mask Mandate Approved For Maplewood Businesses, Buildings

MONTCLAIR — Montclair rolled out a 30-day indoor mask mandate earlier this month. All local businesses and venues that are open to the public must require both staff and customers/visitors to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth while they're inside the establishment and within 6 feet of other people. Exemptions include kids under 2, people with disabilities who can’t wear a mask, or people who are eating or drinking inside any establishment that serves food or beverages. The mandate also doesn't apply to certain gatherings, including religious services and political activities, which are "constitutionally protected." Read More: Montclair Council OKs Indoor Mask Mandate, Cites Omicron Spread

MORRISTOWN — Morristown last week re-instituted a mask mandate for all local businesses and venues open to the public. Masks can be removed when eating or drinking inside an establishment. Mayor Tim Dougherty said the move was due to a spike in new COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the omicron variant. Read More: Mask Mandate Returns To Morristown Amid COVID Spike

NEWARK — Earlier this month, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced that Newark is bringing back its indoor face mask mandate amid a "spike in new COVID-19 cases" and the "emergence of the omicron variant." All residents and visitors must wear a face mask at all times while indoors at any public facility in the city. Read More: Masks Are Back; Newark Indoor Mandate Returns As COVID Spikes

PATERSON — Earlier this week, Paterson brought back a mask mandate in all buildings owned or operated by the city. All employees, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks at all times when indoors.

RIDGEWOOD — Ridgewood’s revived indoor mask mandate covers all municipal buildings, effective Dec. 30. It applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

SOUTH ORANGE — Earlier this month, Village President Sheena Collum signed an executive order requiring an indoor mask mandate for all people, regardless of vaccination status, in all public facilities and businesses in the Township of South Orange Village. Exemptions include kids under 2, people with medical conditions and employees working in high heat settings, as well as people who are actively eating or drinking in a restaurant.

UNION CITY — Union City brought back a citywide mask mandate, which requires everyone 2 years of age and older to wear a face covering while indoors at most public facilities. Exceptions include people who are actively eating or drinking, or those who are socially distanced at least 6 feet apart for an extended period, such as at a desk in an office.

Some local officials in the above towns have cited the omicron variant as one of the factors behind their mandates. However, it’s unclear how much of New Jersey’s recent case rise is due to omicron.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially estimated that 73 percent of new COVID-19 cases nationwide were linked to omicron. But earlier this week, the agency revised those numbers, saying that as of Dec. 25, about 59 percent of all U.S. infections were caused by the variant.

According to the CDC data tracker, the omicron variant made up just 0.19 percent of all New Jersey COVID-19 cases over the four weeks ending on Dec. 4. The delta variant made up 98.44 percent over the same period — by far the largest percentage.

However, some public health experts have cautioned that pre-holiday data about omicron’s reach in New Jersey is severely outdated.

According to regional data from the CDC — which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands — 54.4 percent of cases reported were the omicron variant and 45.2 percent were the delta variant for the week ending Dec. 18. The omicron variant made up 88.4 percent of new cases for the week ending Dec. 25; the delta variant made up 11.5 percent of cases that week. Read More: CDC Slashes Omicron Estimates: See Latest New Jersey Cases

Regardless of the variant type, COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly in New Jersey, according to officials. As of the week ending Dec. 18, every county in the state was in “high” virus activity status, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

New Jersey hit a new record Wednesday, with 20,483 new COVID-19 virus cases reported in one day and 50 new deaths.

The state’s cumulative COVID-19 count stood at 1.29 million confirmed cases on Dec. 29, with 26,118 confirmed deaths linked to the disease.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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