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Four states currently have plans to lift their statewide mask mandates in schools. Governors are citing waning infection rates, as the Omicron surge dies down, as a sign that the mandates are no longer needed. Connecticut, New Jersey, Oregon, and Delaware have all announced they are ending their school mask mandates—in Connecticut’s case, as early as February 28. New Jersey’s mandate will lift on March 7, and Delaware’s and Oregon’s will end on March 31. Oregon and California are also dropping their general indoor mask requirements, though unvaccinated individuals in California must still wear masks indoors.
Eleven states have mask-wearing mandates in schools. Students in New Jersey were required to wear masks as early as September 2020, when schools reopened after the initial pandemic lockdowns. In his announcement on Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called the move to end the mandate