Middletown Students No Longer Have To Wear Masks Outside

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown students no longer have to wear masks while outdoors, even on school grounds, and Middletown student-athletes no longer have to wear masks while practicing their sport or taking part in games.

Also, starting last Thursday, May 20, students no longer have to have their temperatures taken before entering school buildings each day, and parents will no longer need to submit any health screening forms before entering Middletown schools.

Current COVID activity in Middletown schools is "very low," according to the district.

The groundbreaking news — a major shift in how the district operated up until now — was announced last Wednesday in this letter Middletown superintendent Mary Ellen Walker sent home to parents.

Walker said a big factor in her decision was last Tuesday's major announcement from the New Jersey Interstate Athletic Association that student-athletes, coaches and spectators no longer have to wear masks at outdoor high school sports games or practices.

Last Monday, Gov. Murphy said vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks outdoors, and he is expected to drop the indoor mask requirement by Memorial Day weekend, which the CDC recommends.

Walker also said she was concerned about all students having to wear a mask in the hot, steamy temperatures that are just around the corner.

"We are concerned about students and staff being required to wear masks outdoors now that the daily temperatures are warmer," wrote superintendent Walker in this letter home to parents on May 19. "The Governor’s Executive Order provides school districts with some exceptions to the face mask requirement, including when temperatures are hot and/or when students are engaged in high-intensity activities. Therefore, Middletown Township Public School students and staff are permitted to remove masks during outside activities for the remainder of the school year."

"The District will continue to practice social distancing during these times," she added.

Middletown students still have to wear face masks indoors in all school buildings and on buses.

Murphy also has lifted the ban on outdoor interstate sports competitions. Those changes take effect just in time for the high school baseball and softball state tournaments.

Masks at indoor sporting events, such as hockey, wrestling and other sports, are also still required, according to the latest guidance from the NJSIAA.

All Middletown schools will have their graduation ceremonies as scheduled, outdoors on the High School South football field.

Masks are no longer required outdoors in New Jersey for people whether they are vaccinated or not, even when they cannot socially distance 6 feet apart, though people who are not vaccinated are still urged to wear them out of an abundance of caution, Murphy said Friday.

Related: NJSIAA Lifts Mask Requirement For Outdoor High School Sports (May 18)

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