New Jersey School District Reinstates COVID Mask Mandate

Students board a school bus outside of Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington County which is one of several school districts which sued to stop the mask-optional order by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R), in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 25, 2022. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

A school district in northern New Jersey confirmed this week it would reinstate its COVID-19 mask mandate starting Wednesday, drawing criticism.

“Therefore, effective Wednesday, December 21, 2022, all employees, Pre-K through grade 12 students, and visitors are required to wear face coverings in all district facilities, school grounds, and buses,” Passaic Public Schools Superintendent Sandra Diodonet said in a letter issued via Twitter. “When Passaic County is in the moderate or below range, the mask mandate will be lifted,” Diodonet wrote.