New Jersey holding off on masks as pediatric cases rise, variant concerns loom

As rate of pediatric cases rises, New Jersey holding off on masks

State health commissioner Judy Persichilli said the rate of positive test results has risen recently for children up to age 13, and most sharply in children 4 and under. She added that overall cases, the rate of hospitalization and the percentage of patients in intensive care has remained low.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September.

The Democrat made his comments on the same day the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a "layered approach" that includes masks for children over age 2, regardless of vaccination status, when they return to school.

Currently, children 12 and over are eligible to be vaccinated. A vaccine for children under 12 is expected to be available by the end of this year.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of recommendations for students and staff ahead of the approaching school year on Monday which included "strong" support for in-person learning, but urged both teachers and students to wear masks in classrooms — regardless of their vaccination status.

Gov. Murphy not ready to reinstate mask mandates in NJ amid rising cases

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he's not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September as concerns over the Delta variant loom.

Murphy noted that the AAP guidelines encompass all 50 states, many of which have vaccination rates lower than New Jersey’s. Roughly 5.2 million of New Jersey’s 8.8 million residents are fully vaccinated, according to state officials, or about two-thirds of the eligible population.

"We continue to be comfortable where we are," Murphy said. "We watch this like a hawk. I don’t want to go back, but if we think that’s the right thing to do, we’ll do what the public health experts suggest."

Murphy lifted the state’s indoor mask mandate in late May for people vaccinated against COVID-19.

‘BREAKTHROUGH’ CASES IN NEW JERSEY

Murphy and Persichilli provided an update on the number of fully vaccinated people in the state who have tested positive for COVID-19, referred to as "breakthrough" infections.

Through June 28, they found about 3,500 positive cases, 84 requiring hospitalization and 31 deaths among the state’s 4.4 million vaccinated people.

"These numbers speak for themselves, and they speak volumes as to why everyone aged 12 and up who is eligible should go and get vaccinated," Murphy said.

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