Gov. Phil Murphy will announce Monday that New Jersey will lift its indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated people and follow recent federal guidance in time for Memorial Day weekend as COVID-19 numbers keep declining while vaccinations continue, NJ Advance Media has learned.
The new rules, which follow updated advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will go into effect a week from today, May 28, meaning vaccinated people will no longer be required to wear face coverings in most public places for the first time in 14 months, multiple sources with knowledge of the plan told NJ Advance Media.
The decision comes after Murphy has stood firm for days that New Jersey would not ease its indoor mask mandate — at least not immediately — despite the CDC abruptly announcing last week that fully vaccinated Americans can now safely go without wearing masks and social distancing in most cases.