Montclair issues temporary indoor mask mandate as COVID cases surge – NorthJersey.com
The Montclair Township Council on Tuesday passed a resolution requiring that masks be worn indoors in public places, effective immediately.
The mandate, which passed by a 7-0 vote, is in effect for the next 30 days. Masks must be worn regardless of vaccination status.
The measure was introduced by Councilor-at-Large Peter Yacobellis as COVID cases in the state continued to rise sharply, from 2,471 on Dec. 1 to 6,505 on Monday.
He said that 64 Montclair residents had tested positive for COVID by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and that there have been 248 positive cases in town in the last seven days.
Today, after 27 new COVID cases were reported at the high school on Monday and Tuesday, Superintendent Jonathan Ponds moved Montclair High School to all-virtual instruction for the two remaining days before the holiday break.
Testing:Free in-home COVID tests are available for NJ residents by mail
“I do not believe we have a choice except to take this modest and temporary action to protect the community’s most vulnerable residents, as well as signal that Montclair is a safe place to come shop, dine or see a show,” Yacobellis said. “The CDC has classified Essex County as an area with high community transmission and recommends mask-wearing indoors in public places if you are in an area designated as having substantial or high transmission.”
He said he is hopeful that the measure will be short-lived, with treatment pills from Merck and Pfizer coming shortly, along with more robust testing.
Mayor Sean Spiller said the township will provide a printable notice on the town website so shop-owners can post in their windows that the mask mandate is “by order of Montclair township.”
Virus:NJ COVID cases closing in on record highs, but is omicron driving the surge?
The law specifies that the mask may be removed to eat or drink inside establishments that serve food or beverages, and children under age 2 are exempt.
The authority for the council’s mask mandate comes from New Jersey’s Executive Order Number 242 Section 18, which permits municipalities and counties to “impose additional restrictions, in response to COVID-19, regarding mask requirements for individuals in indoor public spaces.”
Julia Martin is the 2021 recipient of the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists’ David Carr award for her coverage of Montclair for NorthJersey.com.
For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: jmartin@gannettnj.com
Twitter: @TheWriteJulia