Health secretary signs order making masks mandatory in all public spaces in Pennsylvania
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
Updated: 7:55 AM EDT Jul 3, 2020
Health secretary signs order making masks mandatory in all public spaces in Pennsylvania
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
Updated: 7:55 AM EDT Jul 3, 2020
COUNTY. BARBARA? BARBARA: JERE, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE FROM RECOMMENDING TO REQUIRING MASKS UNDER CONDITIONS OUTLINED IN THIS NEW ORDER, BUT, AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS AT THIS TIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NOT ISSUE CITATIONS TO THOSE NOT WEARING MASKS, BUT INSTEAD, RELY ON THE "GOOD SENSE AND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT OF PENNSYLVANIANS." IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND UNABLE TO CONSISTENTLY MAINTAIN DOZENS OF SIX FEET FROM PEOPLE NOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, WEAR A MASK. PUBLIC IS PERMITTED. IF YOU ARETRANSPORTATION OR RIDE WEAR A MASK. IF YOU ARE OBTAINING HEALTH CARE SERVICES, SUCH AS A PHARMACY, DENTAL OFFICE, HOSPITAL, AT THE WORKPLACE, INDOORS OR OUT, IN A COMMON AREA, OR IF YOU ARE ENGAGING IN PEOPLE, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR BREATHING OR RESPIRATORY ISSUES, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK. IF IT WOULD MAKE FOR UNSAFE WORK CONDITIONS, SUCH AS OPERATING EQUIPMENT. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REMOVE MASK WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. IF YOU ARE UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. AND IF YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE HEARING IMPAIRED. HEALTH SECRETARY DR. RACHEL DAVINO SPOKE THIS MORNING ON KDKA -- RACHEL LEVINE SPOKE THIS MORNING ON KDKA NEWSRADIO. DR. LEVINE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT COMMUNITY SPREAD, AS HAS BEEN SEEN IN THOSE SOUTHERN STATES. BARBARA: A ISSUING MORE RESTRICT AND IN PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA, DUE TO A SPIKE, BUT NOTHING WE HAVE SEEN IN THE SUNBELT AREA. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE WALKING ON A TRAIL, AND IT IS CROWDED, WEAR A MASK. IF YOU ARE WALKING ALONE IN THE WOODS, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.
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Health secretary signs order making masks mandatory in all public spaces in Pennsylvania
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
Updated: 7:55 AM EDT Jul 3, 2020
Pennsylvania's secretary of health has signed an order making masks mandatory in all public spaces in the state.Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that Dr. Rachel Levine had expanded the previous mask-wearing order. Read the order here.The new order is effective immediately, Wolf said.“This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania. Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing – two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening," Wolf said in a statement.The order includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement, including individuals who can't wear a mask because a medical condition, anyone who can't take off a mask without help and children under 2 years old.Wolf said the mask-wearing order will be sent to state and local officials, law enforcement and others tasked with education about the order for those not in compliance. According to the order, people must wear masks if they are: Outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet from individuals who are not members of their household.In any indoor location where members of the public are generally permitted.Waiting for, riding on, driving or operating public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle.Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic or blood bank.Engaged in work, whether at workplace or performing work off-site, when interacting in-person with any member of the public, working in any space visited by members of the public, working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others, working in or walking through common areas, or in any room or enclosed area where other people, except for members of the person's own household or residence, are present wherein unable to physically distance.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Pennsylvania's secretary of health has signed an order making masks mandatory in all public spaces in the state.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that Dr. Rachel Levine had expanded the previous mask-wearing order. Read the order here.
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The new order is effective immediately, Wolf said.
“This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania. Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing – two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening," Wolf said in a statement.
The order includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement, including individuals who can't wear a mask because a medical condition, anyone who can't take off a mask without help and children under 2 years old.
Wolf said the mask-wearing order will be sent to state and local officials, law enforcement and others tasked with education about the order for those not in compliance.
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According to the order, people must wear masks if they are:
- Outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet from individuals who are not members of their household.
- In any indoor location where members of the public are generally permitted.
- Waiting for, riding on, driving or operating public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle.
- Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic or blood bank.
- Engaged in work, whether at workplace or performing work off-site, when interacting in-person with any member of the public, working in any space visited by members of the public, working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others, working in or walking through common areas, or in any room or enclosed area where other people, except for members of the person's own household or residence, are present wherein unable to physically distance.