#New Jersey will require face masks to be worn outdoors: Gov. Phil Murphy

Wearing a face mask outdoors in New Jersey will now be required by law, Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Murphy appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to announce that he’ll be signing an executive order Wednesday, calling face masks “game changers,” NJ.com reported.

“They’ve been strongly recommended out-of-doors. We’re gonna turn that up a notch today and say, We’re gonna ask you: If you can’t socially distance, it’s gonna be required,” he said.

People in New Jersey have been required to wear face masks in indoor settings since early April.  The governor did not immediately say what the penalties would be for failing to comply with the new order.

The new mandate will require face coverings in public with a large number of people when social distancing isn’t possible.

“Admittedly, this is harder to enforce, which is why it’s not a no-brainer,” Murphy said. “But we have to take this step, particularly given the hotspots we’re seeing elsewhere in the country. We’ve gone through hell in New Jersey. We’ve lost over 13,000 people. We’ve brought our numbers way down. We can’t go through that hell again.”

The move comes as coronavirus cases continue to surge in states including Florida, Texas and Arizona.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered residents from 19 states to quarantine for 14 days upon entering the Empire State.

New Jersey has seen 173,878 total cases of COVID-19 and 13,425 confirmed deaths.