SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey is lifting its statewide indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated people at a majority of public spaces, effective Friday, May 28.
At his Monday briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy noted that some businesses are allowed to continue to require indoor masking for employees and customers, if they choose.
The governor said he’s proud of how the state has moved forward, but he encourages residents to still be vigilant.
“This pandemic is not over,” he tweeted. “Lifting the mask mandate is not a license to be a knucklehead. Lifting the mask mandate is simply acknowledging how far we’ve come together and that, together, we’ll cross the finish line.”
This update to masking does not apply to certain agencies. Masks will still be required in public state offices like DMVs, private warehousing and manufacturing facilities, child care centers, youth summer camps, airports and airplanes, public transit, schools, health care settings, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters.
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Unvaccinated people are encouraged to continue following CDC guidance on mask-wearing and social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Murphy said if you are fully vaccinated but feel more comfortable wearing a mask, by all means, continue to do so.
“We won’t have law enforcement checking people’s vaccination status, but we are asking people to be responsible and to do the right thing,” he added.
Also on Friday, the Garden State will lift its social distancing requirement for indoor and outdoor settings. Social distancing will still be required in places where masking is mandated.
Dance floors at bars and restaurants will be allowed to open, effective Friday, as well as food and drink orders while standing at bars and restaurants.
Then next week, on June 4, all indoor gathering limits will be lifted.