Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam announced Thursday afternoon that the commonwealth’s mask order will reflect the announcement made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier today.
The CDC today provided guidance that fully vaccinated individuals can resume activities that they did prior to the pandemic without wearing a mask or physically distancing except where required by law, rule, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. See more information on the CDC website: cdc.gov
On March 16, 2021, the SOH amended the commonwealth’s mask order by adding language directing to the CDC’s guidance for fully vaccinated people allow for no face coverings.
That means that today’s CDC guidelines automatically go into effect in Pennsylvania. Masking requirement will still be in place for unvaccinated individuals until 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
“Today’s guidance from the CDC affects only people who are fully vaccinated” Acting Secretary Beam said.
“This is another incentive to get the vaccine that is now easily and conveniently available. Once 70 percent of Pennsylvanians over 18 are fully vaccinated, we can completely lift the masking order.”
People can find vaccination locations near them using Vaccines.gov, also known as Vaccine Finder. Individuals also can text their zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible vaccination sites in their area.
