N.J. school district reinstates mask mandate as COVID cases rise

One of New Jerseys largest public school districts is requiring masks starting Wednesday due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Passaic Public Schools has 17 schools, including Passaic High School, and enrolls approximately 14,000 students.

Superintendent Sandra M. Diodonet told parents on Tuesday that, under a school board policy, masks are required during periods of a High Activity Level of COVID-19 as documented by the state health department.

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, Diodonet wrote in a letter shared by the school district on Twitter.

Passaic County is among 10 counties in New Jersey that, as of Tuesday, had high community levels of COVID-19, according to state health officials. The others were Bergen, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union and Warren.

The remaining 11 counties had medium transmission levels.

When Passaic County is in the moderate or below range, the mask mandate will be lifted, Diodonet wrote.

The statewide mask mandate was lifted by Gov. Phil Murphy in March.

New Jersey reported an additional 2,207 COVID-19 cases and 28 confirmed deaths Tuesday. That was the largest number of deaths reported on a single day since Feb. 16, when the state reported 35 deaths.

The states seven-day average for confirmed positive tests was 1,965, up 3% from a week ago and up 43% from a month ago.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.