Mask mandates return in some NJ school districts

Students in several school districts across New Jersey are back to wearing masks in the classroom due to a rise in cases of COVID, flu and RSV.

NEW JERSEY – Students in several school districts across New Jersey are back from winter break, and back to wearing masks in classrooms.

Beginning Tuesday, students and staff in Paterson must wear masks indoors, along with students in the Passaic School District, which reinstated the policy before winter vacation.

The Camden City School District also announced a mask mandate for two weeks at 18 of its schools. 

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The move comes in response to the so-called "tripledemic," as cases of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza spike all around the region.

The masks will remain on until further notice in Paterson.

Passaic said it would lift that mask mandate when Passaic County is in the moderate or below range in the NJDOH COVID-19 Activity Level Report.

Newark, the largest public school district in New Jersey, has not implemented a mask mandate. Dr. Fauci discusses COVID-19, masks, fear of tripledemic

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious-disease expert, joined Good Day New York to discuss what’s next for him after he prepares to step down from decades in public service at the end of the month. Fauci also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, masks and the fear of a "tripledemic."