COVID 19

NJ COVID: Indoor Masks Recommended In All 21 Counties As Transmission Rates Climb

/ CBS New York

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all New Jersey residents wear masks at public places indoors as COVID-19 cases spike.

Every county in the state now has a high or substantial rate of transmission, CBS2's Christina Fan reported Monday.

In Monmouth County, where COVID transmission is among the state's highest, face coverings have made a resurgence.

A quarter of businesses in one local strip mall recommend customers mask up. Neighboring towns are following suit.

"Where I work, we just got mandated to put the mask back on," said Sal Voccia.

COVID VACCINE

"Going into ShopRite or Stop & Shop, DeMarco's... I do put it on, because I don't know who else is in there," said Susanne Disimone.

All 21 counties now have either a high or substantial rate of transmission. Under CDC guidelines, that means everyone should wear masks indoors - even if vaccinated.

Many who have received the shot do not agree.

"I don't really see the need for the masks, potentially," said Andrew Levitt. "Those who chose not to get the shots, they made that choice. They put themselves at risk and, that's their risk."

Gov. Phil Murphy stopped short of re-imposing a mask mandate Monday. But he doubled down on his decision to require face coverings in schools at the start of the academic year.

"We are doing this for one reason, to protect the health of our kids and education communities so we can get back to full-time, in-person instruction," Murphy said.

Statewide, 13 kids are hospitalized with the coronavirus. Two are in intensive care.

"There are those on one side in this who will preface these numbers with the word 'only.' They are essentially perfectly accepting of these numbers," said Murphy.

With the Delta variant rapidly spreading, and the fact that young children still cannot be vaccinated, the governor is urging people to get the shot and mask up.

CBS2's Christina Fan contributed to this report.

© 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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