Seven in 10 Americans believe COVID-19 is here to stay, and we need to “get on with our lives,” according to a Monmouth University Poll released in late January. Still, a topic that persists is masks — many strongly oppose mask mandates, citing them as an infringement on their rights, but health experts hold that masks are a critical defense against COVID-19. In New Jersey, face coverings are no longer mandated in most indoor and outdoor settings. And the state’s school mask mandate ends in early March. But cities like Newark are keeping their mask mandate in place until May.

So is the mask-wearing debate coming to a close? It’s hard to tell. To read the full story.