Testa: Murphy Should Now Abolish all Remaining COVID Mandates

Says Science and CDC Agree the Governor’s Restrictions are Unnecessary

A day after some unwarranted COVID testing rules for teachers and school workers were rescinded, and following a CDC report relaxing virus recommendations, Senator Michael Testa is calling on Governor Murphy to do more.

“Monday’s announcement was a start. Now it is time to lift outdated restrictions that could have been eliminated months ago,” said Testa (R-1). “The CDC and the science support easing these directives that provide little to no benefit, and residents are frustrated by confusing, inconsistent guidelines.”

Changes announced by the CDC on August 11 reflect a more moderate COVID posture, and the author of the guidelines said: “The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years.”

“CDC’s COVID-19 prevention recommendations no longer differentiate based on a person’s vaccination status because breakthrough infections occur, though they are generally mild, and persons who have had COVID-19 but are not vaccinated have some degree of protection against severe illness from their previous infection,” the CDC report states.

“Governor Murphy should embrace the new reality and do away with all remaining rules that are needless and unsubstantiated by medical science,” said Testa. “Continued mandates on healthcare workers, corrections officers and others aren’t supported by the latest science.  New Jersey should follow the lead of other states and the CDC and stay up to date.”

The CDC’s changes include removing recommendations that residents self-quarantine after contact with an individual with COVID.