New Jersey to Require Face Masks in Outdoor Public Spaces

[soothsayer]

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-07-08/new-jersey-gov-phil-murphy-mandates-face-coverings-in-outdoor-public-spaces

Snip.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Wednesday stating that masks are required in public when social distancing is not practicable. Exceptions are made for people eating and drinking at an outdoor establishment, individuals under 2 years old and if wearing a mask would inhibit someone's health or safety.

Requiring masks outdoors is a step, frankly, that I had hoped we would not have to take. And by and large, New Jerseyans by the millions have been outstanding in their compliance when masking up to go outside as it was our strong recommendation," Murphy said. "But, unfortunately, we have been seeing a backslide in compliance as the weather has gotten warmer and not surprisingly as a result, our rate of transmission has similarly crept up."

New Jersey was one of the first states to require face coverings in indoor spaces.

"Wearing a face covering, I remind you, is not about politics," the governor added. "It is about quite simply being sick or being healthy. It's about life and death. It's about showing others that you care about their health."