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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 8 February 2022
Governor ending New Jersey's school mask mandate

By MIKE CATALINI plunged by more than a
Associated Press half-million since mid-Janu-
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New ary, when they hit a record-
Jersey's governor an- shattering peak of more
nounced plans Monday than 800,000.
to lift the statewide mask Cases have been declining
requirement in schools a in 47 states over the past
month from now because two weeks, according to
of the rapid easing of COV- data from Johns Hopkins
ID-19's omicron surge, call- University.
ing the move "a huge step Also, the number of Ameri-
back to normalcy for our cans in the hospital with
kids." COVID-19 has fallen 24%
Individual school districts since mid-January to about
will be free to continue 111,000.
requiring masks once the Deaths are still running high
state mandate ends March at more than 2,400 per day
7, Democratic Gov. Phil on average, the most since
Murphy said. last winter, reflecting a lag
New Jersey is one of a doz- between when victims be-
en states with mask man- come infected and when
dates in schools, according they die.
to the nonpartisan National Omicron's loosening grip
Academy for State Health New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy talks to three and four year old students in a pre-K class at the Dr. has raised hopes among
Policy. New Jersey's has Charles Smith Early Childhood Center, Sept. 16, 2021, in Palisades Park, N.J. Associated Press politicians and public
been in place since classes health experts that the
resumed in person in Sep- viewing the numbers and ant fueled a spike in infec- governor has had support pandemic may be about
tember 2020. did not announce any tions over the holidays, but for the mask rule up to to enter a new phase in
The state's decision comes change in the state's re- cases in the state are down now from the New Jersey which the virus becomes
as omicron wanes across quirement. 50% and hospitalizations Education Association, the like the flu — an ever-pres-
the U.S. and state and local White House press secre- dropped off by one-third state's biggest teachers ent but generally manage-
governments grapple with tary Jen Psaki said universal since last week, he said. union. "This is a huge step able threat.
which COVID-19 restrictions mask-wearing in schools "We are not — and I've said back to normalcy for our In New Jersey, it is unclear
to jettison and which ones "still remains our recom- this many times — going to kids," Murphy said. how many and how soon
to keep in place. It also mendation," but she did manage COVID to zero," In a statement, the union the state's 600-plus school
comes amid a growing not fault states for dropping the governor said. "We noted that trends show districts might end the

sense that the virus is going the requirement. have to learn how to live COVID-19 heading in the wearing of masks.
to be with us a long time "It's always been up to with COVID as we move right direction, and add- Melissa Alfieri-Collins, a
and Americans need to school districts. That's al- from a pandemic to an en- ed: "It is appropriate for mother of two who dis-
find a way to coexist with it. ways been our point of demic phase of this virus." Gov. Murphy to allow lo- agrees with mask man-
Also on Monday, Delaware view and always been our Murphy faced pressure cal districts to continue to dates in schools, saying she
Gov. John Carney said his policy from here," she said. from Republicans and require masking in commu- prefers "choice," called the
state's school mask man- Murphy cited the "dramatic some parents who have nities where that is prudent governor's decision good
date will stay in effect until decline in our COVID num- held rallies at the state- based on local conditions." news. But she raised con-
March 31. New York Gov. bers" in announcing the house demanding an end Nationwide, new COV- cern that districts might
Kathy Hochul said she is re- rollback. The omicron vari- to the mandate. But the ID-19 cases per day have keep mask rules in place. q

IRS to end use of facial recognition to

identify taxpayers

no longer use a third-party made the smart decision to “The IRS takes taxpayer pri-
service, called ID.me, for direct the IRS to transition vacy and security seriously,
facial recognition. Critics of away from using the con- and we understand the
the software said the data- troversial ID.me verification concerns that have been
base could become a tar- service.” raised,” said IRS Commis-
get for cyberthreats. They “No one should be forced sioner Chuck Rettig.
also expressed concern to submit to facial recog- “Everyone should feel
about how the informa- nition to access critical comfortable with how their
tion could be used by oth- government services,” he personal information is se-
er government agencies, added. cured, and we are quickly
In this photo March 22, 2013, photo, the exterior of the Internal among other concerns. The IRS is currently grappling pursuing short-term options
Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington. Earlier Monday, Senate Fi- with a worker shortage and that do not involve facial
Associated Press nance Committee Chair an expanded workload recognition.”
Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called from processing tax filings The agency said the transi-
By FATIMA HUSSEIN thenticate people who cre- on the agency to end its and administering pan- tion would occur “over the
Associated Press ate online accounts after use of the ID.me software. demic-related programs. coming weeks in order to
WASHINGTON (AP) — The the practice was criticized After the IRS announced Legislation that would have prevent larger disruptions
IRS said Monday it will sus- by privacy advocates and the practice would be sus- given the agency billions of to taxpayers during filing
pend the use of facial rec- lawmakers. pended, Wyden said “the dollars to more expeditious- season.”q
ognition technology to au- The agency said it would Treasury Department has ly process returns is stalled.