How The New Federal Mask Mandate Affects Morristown National Park

MORRISTOWN, NJ — If you've been consistently wearing a mask, President Joe Biden's new federal mask mandate should be a walk in the park to follow. But since President Biden's mandate affects Morristown National Historic Park, here's what you should know.

The executive order requires mask-wearing in National Park Service buildings and facilities. They're also required in NPS-managed lands where physical distancing can't be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, overlooks and historic homes.

“Wearing a mask around others, physical distancing, and washing your hands are the simplest and most effective public health measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Sara Newman, public health director captain of the NPS Office. “Getting outside and enjoying our public lands is essential to improving mental and physical health, but we all need to work together to recreate responsibly.”

President Biden signed the executive order Jan. 20, his first day in office.

The new federal rules aren't far off from New Jersey's current mask requirements. The Garden State requires face coverings:

• in indoor spaces open to the public.
• indoor spaces, including office buildings, where people are in prolonged proximity to others.
• outdoor public spaces when social distancing isn't possible.

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of George Washington and the Continental Army's winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780. They survived through what would be the coldest winter on record.

The park also has a museum and library collection related to the encampments and Washington, along with items relating to pre- and post-Revolutionary America.

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