UPDATED: 8 a.m., Aug. 10
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The mask discussion is getting pretty ugly in New Jersey. Critics of Gov. Phil Murphy’s mandate that everyone wear masks in New Jersey schools say that decision should have been left to parents.
Murphy says those people apparently do not care about kids.
The governor says a mask mandate in schools is a simple, common sense solution that will slow the spread of the virus, and he says he doesn’t understand why masks became political.
In his coronavirus briefing on Monday, Murphy said 13 New Jersey children are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, including two in the ICU.
Murphy blasted his critics who say there are "only" 13 kids in the hospital
"When the say 'only,' they are saying that they are perfectly willing to accept children landing in the ICU or dying from COVID. They won’t say it out loud, but it is exactly what they are saying. And I cannot be kind about that."
Murphy said seven children in the state have died since the start of the pandemic. He said critics of the school mask mandate are saying they are fine with children under 12 years old, who are too young to be vaccinated, contracting COVID-19.
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Bruce Afram is an attorney representing parents who are suing the state over the mandate. They say the mandate is unconstitutional and unnecessary.
"The same children and teachers can mix in a restaurant, at a wedding, at a party, at a synagogue, at a church or mosque for hours on end and don’t need masks, don’t need any protection. But only in schools. There’s simply no justification."
The governor said people who are opposed to masks in schools are willing to sacrifice children for politics.
"We’re not willing to surrender our kids to this virus, unlike those opposed to this common sense plan," he said.
Afram says the courts will likely make a decision before the start of the school year in a few weeks.
Murphy wouldn’t comment on any possible penalties for children who refuse to wear masks in school. He also said the state is considering mandating vaccinations for teachers.
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