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Mask Lift In New Jersey Schools

Erika Merixa Garcia



What will it be like to return back to normal? On February 7, 2022, Governor Murphy announced that after March 7, 2022, masks will no longer be required in schools in New Jersey. Since the beginning of this year, cases have gone down, and vaccination rates are going up.

Currently, 89.29% of New Jersey’s population is vaccinated with at least one dose, and 74.52% is fully vaccinated. With these factors in play, Governor Murphy has allowed school districts to decide if they allow their students to choose whether to wear or not to wear masks. “With COVID-19 moving into an endemic, the time has come to move toward normalcy, In the past two years, New Jerseyans have shown great strength, resiliency, and kindness during one of the most difficult and trying times in the history of our state,” said Governor Murphy.

On March 7th, it was Cliffside Park district’s first day without enforced masks. I think this marks a memorable day for our community. It shows things getting better and provides hope for the future, hope that has been lost for many over the last two years. For the past two years, we’ve seen the U.S go through hardships due to Covid but we continue to strive towards normalcy.

It has been refreshing to see people without half their faces being covered. I asked a few classmates about their opinion, and most agree that it’s nice not having to wear a mask at all times. Others, including myself, admit that it’s also a bit nerve-wracking seeing everyone without masks. I think a fear for many is having cases go up and tragedy striking once again.

At the rate we're going so far, cases will continue to decline. As a community, I think everyone should get vaccinated or be cautious of distance in order to protect one another. While a bit of me still has anxiousness about this shift, I can only hope for the best for this state in continuing the decline of cases, staying safe, and looking out for one another's health.



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