TRENTON, NJ – While New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has yet to issue a statewide mask mandate or indoor capacity restrictions against businesses, some New Jersey cities have taken it upon themselves to implement mask mandates. Here are the cities that have implemented citywide mask mandates amid the latest wave of COVID-19 here in the Garden State.
NEWARK MASK MANDATE
Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced that he will sign an Executive Order on Monday, December 27, requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for customers 5 years of age and older to enter certain establishments and facilities. The order will commence by requiring anyone attending public New Year’s Eve events and parties to show proof of vaccination. By January 10, persons entering a facility or business must show proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose; and be fully vaccinated three weeks later.
“Newark’s latest three-day test positivity rate has spiked to 27.16 percent. Guided by this data, the City of Newark is taking firm and aggressive action to prevent its spread and protect our residents and workers. Newark will continue to meet the challenge of COVID-19 with determination,” Mayor Baraka said.
MONTCLAIR MASK MANDATE
The Montclair Township Council unanimously voted on Resolution R-21-267 at the Dec. 21 Council meeting to enact an immediate mask mandate for all indoor public places in Montclair for the next 30 days. Tthe face covering requirement of this Resolution does not apply to the following persons:young children under age 2; a person with a disability who cannot wear a face covering or cannot safely wear a face covering for reasons related to the disability; a person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidance; a person while eating or drinking inside any establishment that serves food or beverages.
EAST ORANGE MASK MANDATE
Amid an overwhelming increase in COVID-19 cases and new variants, Mayor Ted R. Green has implemented a mask mandate in the City of East Orange. The new mask mandate goes into effect December 22, 2021 and will be enforced until further notice.
The mandate requires all persons over the age of three in the City of East Orange to wear a mask while in any indoor public facility and to wear one outdoors when maintaining a proper social distance from others is not possible. This mandate includes all residents, visitors, employees and vendors operating within any of the city’s establishments.
“As we continue to navigate this new normal, I want to emphasize with urgency the necessity of wearing a mask while out in public,” said Mayor Green. “The number of new cases continues to increase at an alarming rate and I urge everyone to be vigilant in protecting themselves and each other.”
The city also strongly advises that all school staff and students be tested before they return to in-person classes.
NEW BRUNSWICK MASK MANDATE
The City of New Brunswick has implemented an indoor mask mandate inside city buildings and private buildings including restaurants, bars, gyms and commercial retail stores.
“We are hopeful this proven and effective measure helps to create a safer environment for patrons and service providers alike and, at the same time, allows businesses and places of public accommodation to remain open and staffed to serve the public and stay in business,” Cahill said in a statement. “Given the rapid rise of active cases in New Brunswick and the county, this will help to reduce the number of new cases and thus, reduce the impact on our hospitals, health care system, and testing sites,” the city said.
MORRISTOWN MASK MANDATE
Morristown Mayor Tim Doughery implemented a mask mandate for all local businesses and venues that are open to public access. Masks may be removed while eating and drinking.
HOBOKEN MASK MANDATE
The Hoboken Office of Emergency Management instituted an Executive Order establishing a face mask requirement at all indoor facilities of public accommodation, due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the City of Hoboken and New Jersey.
Under the Executive Order, all residents and visitors over the age of 2 will be required to wear a mask or face-covering while inside any public building or commercial establishment, except when actively eating or drinking.
This became necessary to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant, with record high cases in Hoboken and across the tri-state area. We need to revert back to one of the tools that we know works – a face mask. This new measure will create a safer environment for our most vulnerable residents in public places and ensure our businesses can stay open and remain adequately staffed during the winter months. Thank you to the many Hoboken businesses which have already implemented this requirement.
“Given the recent surge in omicron, we’re taking additional effective measures in preventing the spread of COVID and having our staff mask up for the safety of all, ” said Anthony Pino, Owner of Bin 14 and Anthony David’s. “We’re hopeful the severity of omicron will be short lived and our community can resume to some normalcy. ”
RIDGEWOOD MASK MANDATE
All persons visiting Ridgewood public building shall wear a facemask regardless of vaccination status.
PATERSON MASK MANDATE
An indoor mask mandate has been announced by Paterson to require face masks inside all public buildings operated by the city.
SOUTH ORANGE MASK MANDATE
Village President Sheena Collum has signed an Executive Order requiring “an indoor mask mandate for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in all public facilities and businesses in the Township of South Orange Village.”
UNION CITY MASK MANDATE
Union City has implemented a mask requirement for all public businesses and commercial establishments regardless of vaccination status and recommends that residents avoid large gatherings.