As coronavirus cases decline in America, several states are altering their mask mandate laws to shift into a ‘new normal.’ New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced on Monday that he will be lifting the state’s mask mandate for schools and child care settings. Many replied positively, demanding that their children were unmasked and in favor of Murphy’s decision. Others are discouraged by the mandate’s disappearance, suggesting that both children and staff wear masks whether or not they have been vaccinated.

Schools in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, and Oregon have also been reported to lift mask requirements for students. California announced plans to end its indoor masking requirement for only vaccinated people sometime next week, though a mandate for students will still be in place.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) an American professional association of pediatricians, emailed U.S News and stated that it “has not changed its recommendation calling for universal masking in the schools.”

In a press release by the AAP last month, they noted that “at this time, when more than 2 million children have been infected with COVID-19 during the month of January alone – it is important to make sure children and staff wear masks whether or not they’ve been vaccinated.”

Contrary to the opinions of many groups, some professionals encourage the implementation of an optional mandate. Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, predicted that school mask mandates would soon expire in an interview. “Schools in the state of Connecticut will very quickly lift mask requirements for students,” Gottlieb said.