Gov. Phil Murphy says a mask mandate could soon be underway in New Jersey, and if it moves forward, people in the state will have to wear a mask or a face covering anytime not home or inside.

Masks are required at indoor public spaces right now, but outdoors, have essentially just been a recommendation, especially when people can't social distance.

 

The reasoning behind it is significant because, for the first time in 10 weeks, the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the state exceeded 1.0 – meaning that if one person has the coronavirus, they're spreading it to at least one other person.

Gov. Murphy has already ordered face coverings at most indoor common areas such as supermarkets and malls.

VIRUS TRACKER: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut coronavirus cases and deaths 
MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond
MORE: New Jersey Coronavirus Dashboard 
FULL COVERAGE: Coronavirus Pandemic

"A face covering is what protects you from unknowingly spreading coronavirus to others,” says Gov. Murphy. “Face coverings are how we slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings are our way to protect others."

Gov. Murphy had been hoping a nationwide mask order would come from the federal government. President Donald Trump though has rejected that, and states have been taking matters into their own hands.

The governors of Pennsylvania and Texas ordered mask wearing last week, California mandated masks last month, and some local governments in Arizona and Florida have said they'll fine people who don't comply with the mandates. Parts of California are already citing people who don't.