Archdiocese to end mask mandate at more than 70 N.J. Catholic schools – NJ.com

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Newark will no longer require students and staff to wear masks beginning next month, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

As of March 7, masks will be optional in school, according to Archdiocese spokeswoman Maria Margiotta. The move mirrors Gov. Phil Murphy’s decision to end the statewide school mask mandate on the same day.

“At that time, parents who choose to have their student attend school without a mask are free to do so, and likewise, parents may choose to have their student continue to wear a mask at school. Masks continue to be required on buses since they fall under federal transportation mandates,” Margiotta said in an email.

The Archdiocese of Newark includes 50 elementary schools and more than 20 high schools in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

“Over the course of the past two years, we have worked diligently to protect the health and well­ being of our students and staff,” the spokeswoman said. “We appreciate the support and cooperation of our school community’s shared efforts to realize academic and spiritual growth while maintaining a safe and welcoming environment, and we continue to join together in prayer that the days ahead will be brighter and the burden will be lighter.”

Citing a “dramatic decline” in COVID-19 cases, Murphy earlier this month lifted the much-debated school mask requirement. Individual schools, districts and child care facilities still have the choice to continue requiring masks after the requirement ends in March. No facility will be allowed to prohibit masks.

Officials on Wednesday reported another 61 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 2,235 confirmed cases in New Jersey.

“Our numbers are clearly headed dramatically in the right direction,” the governor said Wednesday during his coronavirus briefing in Trenton.

Some public school districts across the state have announced policies on whether or not they’ll continue to require masks, while others have said they are still deciding. Newark schools, the largest public district in the state, has said it will hold off on lifting its mask mandate, for now.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.

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