TRENTON, NJ – This week, Governor Phil Murphy swore in New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan despite declaring a fresh, new public health emergency hours earlier. At the event, Governor Murphy was double-masked in an effort to dodge the highly contagious omicron variant of the virus. Even with his two vaccinations and booster shot, Murphy acknowledged last week that the new variant is now infecting vaccinated and unvaccinated alike…even the boosted.
In the photo below, Governor Murphy is seen double marked, socially distanced from the family and friends who came to support Callahan, seen wearing a Kylo Ren style respirator, as he was sworn into office.
In the next photo, Governor Murphy and the entire delegation are seen maskless, perhaps after New Jersey State Police did an omicron sweep of the building and gave the all-clear. It is uncertain if the delegation held their breath or whether the CDC has lessened its COVID-19 guidance to allow for photo ops. New Jersey does not have any limits on indoor gatherings, but government facilities do have state-mandated indoor masking requirements.
