As soon as the holiday break ends, thousands of students across two New Jersey school districts can once again expect COVID-19 face mask policies.
Paterson public school district officials announced Thursday that face masks must be worn by students and staff indoors starting Jan. 3. The change, which will impact about 25,000 students in the fourth-largest school district in the state, will take effect when classes resume.
On the same day, the Camden City School District, which has about 6,800 students across 18 schools, will start a two-week mask mandate, officials there announced last week.
“Your safety and well-being is our priority so to mitigate the spread of illness, it has been decided that upon the return from winter break we are reinstating the districtwide mask mandate,” Eileen Shafer, Paterson school district superintendent, said in a letter to parents and guardians.
Addressing the need to again require masks, which became optional in Paterson public schools in May, Shafer cited rising rates of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu in Passaic County and throughout the state.
In a message to families from Dec. 21, Camden School Superintendent Katrina McCombs also cited a surge in cases for the need to reinstall the policy.
“The New Jersey Department of Health has already reported an increase in COVID, flu, and RSV cases. Therefore, in an effort to be proactive and remain vigilant, all schools and offices will operate under a short mask mandate upon reopening,” said McCombs, noting that the requirement will end Jan. 17.
Passaic and Camden counties are among 18 counties in New Jersey that, as of Dec. 22, had “high” community levels of COVID-19, according to state health officials. The CDC, as of last week considers only three counties to have “medium” community levels of COVID-19: Sussex, Somerset and Mercer. Masks should be worn in areas with “high” levels of coronavirus, the agency says.
“This decision has been made under the guidance of Paterson’s Director of Health, Dr. (Thakur ‘Paul’) Persaud, as the city is currently experiencing a community spread. We will reevaluate this decision as we follow the data and monitor the change in the rate of transmission,” Shafer said.
Following the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 900 children were being treated in emergency rooms in New Jersey due to a “triple threat” of respiratory diseases, according to the New Jersey Hospital Association and other health officials.
The most recent decision Thursday to mandate face masks once more across the 50 Paterson schools came a week after Passaic Public Schools, which enrolls approximately 14,000 students, announced face masks would again be required due to a spike of COVID-19 cases.
A Paterson public schools’ spokesman said in a statement Thursday that school officials will continue to monitor transmission rates and “reevaluate the decision as needed.”
In her letter, Shafer noted that Paterson students must be masked when inside school buildings and can only remove them when eating, drinking or taking medication. Visitors will also be required to wear face masks. The requirements in the district have been the subject of some debate in the past.
“As for the mask requirement, I know this is a relief to some, and a frustration to others,” Shafer said. “No matter what your position may be, I ask for your cooperation. Please continue to maintain universal masking throughout our buildings and we encourage you to take all other precautions against the spread of the COVID-19, RSV, Flu virus including frequent hand washing, avoiding large gatherings, and staying home when sick.”
The Paterson school district superintendent said masks and other personal protective equipment will be available for any students and staff who need it. In addition to providing PPE, Camden district officials have also hosted vaccine clinics at schools.
NJ Advance Media staff writers Rob Jennings and Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.
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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @stevenrodasnj.