Cherry Hill Schools Clarify Mask Rules After Murphy Announcement

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Cherry Hill Public School District has clarified that masks must be worn on campus after Gov. Phil Murphy announced earlier this week that masks no longer have to be worn outside amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Murphy signed an executive order on Monday lifting the outdoor mask mandate for vaccinated people while leaving the indoor mandate in place. Read more here: 5 Reasons Why Gov. Murphy Won’t Lift NJ COVID Mask Mandate Yet

“The order notes that outdoor public spaces do not include child care centers, other child care facilities, youth summer camps, and public, private, and parochial preschool program premises, and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools,” the district said in an email Thursday morning. “Current recommendations and requirements regarding masking in those settings will remain in effect.”

But while everyone must wear masks inside the schools’ buildings at all times, exceptions can be made outside. Students, staff and visitors who are outdoors to remove their masks under certain circumstances:

• When the individual is exposed to extreme heat outdoors
• When the individual is eating or drinking
• When the individual is engaged in high-intensity aerobic or anerobic activity

The district defines extreme heat as an outside temperature or heat index above 79 degrees. Information about the National Weather Service Heat Index is available online.