Philadelphia reinstates indoor mask mandate amid rising COVID cases

• Philadelphia officials are reinstating an indoor mask mandate amid rising cases.
• The state allowed “a one-week education period for businesses,” which means that the mask mandate will go into effect on April 18.
• The reinstated mask mandate goes against recommendations of the CDC, which considers the state as low-risk.

The omicron BA.2 subvariant has been driving an increase in new cases in Philadelphia, prompting state officials to reinstate an indoor mask mandate.

Citing an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in several European countries and U.S. states, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced the reinstatement of the mask mandate during a press briefing on Monday afternoon.

The state’s new mandate goes against CDC recommendations. According to the agency, Philadelphia County’s community risk level is still low. Counties with low community transmission should choose whether or not to wear a mask based on their “personal preference.”

But the state has entered tier 2 of its COVID-19 response system. This means that it has reached two of three conditions: a 50% increase in cases over the last 10 days, between 100-225 new cases per day, and hospitalizations between 50-100.

If new cases in the state reach between 225 and 500 per day, officials will have to reinstate the requirement of showing a vaccine card or negative COVID-19 test before entering bars and restaurants.

On Monday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney clarified on Twitter, “Our city remains open; we can still go about our daily lives and visit the people and places we love while masking in indoor public spaces.”

The state allowed “a one-week education period for businesses,” which means that the mask mandate will go into effect next Monday, April 18.

Philadelphia is the first major city to reinstate an indoor mask mandate. Several states and local governments lifted such mandates earlier this year after a drop in cases.

The 7-day nationwide average for new COVID-19 cases reached an all-time high of 806,739 on January 15, before dropping sharply in January and February. Since mid-March, the 7-day nationwide average has only been around 26,000.

“Most Americans in most of the country can now be mask-free,” President Biden declared during his State of the Union address on March 1. “And based on the projections, more of the country will reach that point across the next couple of weeks. Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.”

Source: FOX News