Concern about COVID-19 illness is at an all-time low among New Jersey residents, according to a new Monmouth University Poll out Thursday. And only one in three, or 34%, of adult residents support reinstating statewide mask and social distancing guidelines, while 64% oppose their reintroduction. This represents a sharp reversal from last fall, even as COVID-19 case numbers continue rising in New Jersey. Nearly 2,300 new positive tests and seven more deaths were reported Thursday.
The poll also shows residents continue to give Gov. Phil Murphy high marks for his pandemic response — 67% say it’s been a job well done.
The Monmouth data comes just as Pfizer announced it plans to ask regulators to approve COVID-19 booster shots for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds, after the pharmaceutical company found the vaccine generated a strong immune response in that age group.
