Kathy Suchodolski of Toms River
Massive Fire at the PepsiCo Factory in Piscataway, New Jersey
The Public Health Emergency in New Jersey has been extended for another 30 days.
Executive Order No. 288 was signed by Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday, extending Executive Order No. 280. The declaration was made on Jan. 11, 2022, in response to the "Omicron Tsunami" that caused a spike in coronavirus cases earlier this year.
This comes just days after Murphy declared on March 7 that New Jersey's school mask mandate would be repealed. Schools can extend the mask mandate, but the requirement in New Jersey expires in March.
Murphy can unilaterally prolong a number of his emergency executive orders by declaring a state of emergency.
It also permits the state to continue vaccine distribution, vaccination or testing requirements in certain settings, COVID-19 data collection, implementation of any applicable CDC recommendations to prevent or limit COVID-19 transmission, staffing and resource allocation, and other critical components of the state's COVID-19 response.
If not renewed, the current Public Health Emergency will expire in 30 days. There are no additional restrictions with this newest state of emergency.
Prior to the expiration date, COVID-19 metrics in New Jersey will be reevaluated to see if another extension is required.
