NEW JERSEY (1010 WINS) — New Jersey residents broadly support mask mandates in schools for all staff and students, according to a new poll.
Two-thirds of respondents, or 67%, supported Gov. Phil Murphy’s policy, Monmouth University found in its poll released Monday.
Residents were more split on mandatory vaccinations for students. Just over half of all voters, or 53%, approved vaccine requirements for children age 12 and older in order to return to in-person learning.
“The vocal opposition to the state’s school mask mandate is a decidedly minority view,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement. “However, there may be greater pushback from parents if a vaccine mandate was instituted for school children.”
Murphy on Monday announced a new mandate requiring state employees, including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or get COVID-19 testing once or twice a week.
“Scientific data shows that vaccination and testing requirements, coupled with strong masking policies, are the best tools for keeping our schools and communities safe for in-person activities,” Murphy said.
The poll also shows increasing fears as the delta variety leads to spikes in cases across the globe. Another 43% of voters said they were very concerned about a family member becoming seriously ill from Covid, up slightly from 37% in May.
Murphy is enjoying sold approval ratings regarding his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, though his support has waned slightly; about 61% agreed Gov. Murphy is doing a good job dealing with the outbreak, down from 65% who said the same three months ago, according to Monmouth pollsters.