“Governor Murphy seems oblivious to the fact that children have a 99.97% survival rate for COVID-19 and few develop symptomatic let alone serious infections,” said Doherty (R-23). “Given the minimal risk, it’s clear the governor’s new mask mandate has little to do with public health and much to do with politics. Maybe if it wasn’t an election year, Governor Murphy would give parents the same consideration he’s giving to the teachers’ union.”

After saying earlier this summer that he would leave masking decisions for the upcoming school year to individual districts, Governor Murphy is expected to announce today that all K-12 students will be required to wear masks in the fall.

Doherty was among the legislators who participated in an independent hearing last month where medical researchers, school officials, and parents testified about the dangers of masking children and doing so unnecessarily.

“We believe policies on the masking of children should be made through the legislative process or by local school districts in consultation with parents,” added Doherty. “Unfortunately, Governor Murphy doesn’t want parents to have a say in whether kids must wear masks. That’s the undeniable message he’s sending by issuing yet another executive order that circumvents the scrutiny of public hearings and open debate.”