Southern Regional Eases In-School Mask Requirement In Hot Weather

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Amid rising temperatures, Southern Regional School District officials are making in-school masks optional for students and staff, the district announced Monday night.

"Due to the current heat and humidity trend, Southern Regional student and staff masking is optional for the remainder of this school year," school officials said in an email alert to parents.

Several school districts across New Jersey adopted the same policy after Gov. Phil Murphy said districts can loosen the requirement in cases of extreme heat.

The provision was one of the exceptions included in the executive order on masking during the pandemic, according to Murphy.

"As a reminder to all school officials, our current masking requirements do include exceptions for cases of extreme heat in outdoor settings and for situations indoors or outdoors where wearing a mask would inhibit the individual's health," Murphy said Monday during a press briefing. "School officials are empowered to relax masking among students and staff in their buildings given extreme weather conditions, and we hope they will make the right calls for their educational communities."

Related: Middletown Students Can Now Take Their Masks Off Inside In School

Toms River Schools Make Masks Optional In Extreme Heat

Woodbridge Schools Relax Mask Mandate In Hot Classrooms Only

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