Breathing will become a little easier within Southern Ocean County school buildings in about a month. On Monday, Feb. 7, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the forthcoming end to the mask mandate.

“Because of the dramatic decline in our COVID numbers, effective March 7 the statewide school mask mandate will be lifted,” said Murphy, adding that the mandate removal includes not only public school districts, but all private childcare settings as well. “This is a huge step back to normalcy for our kids.”