Governor Tom Wolf announced on Wednesday that masks are now required for people in any public space in Pennsylvania.
Wolf said in a news release that the order “is essential to stopping the recent increase in Covid-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania,” He pointed to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing guidelines. Under the order signed by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachael Levine, masks are required when:
- People are outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a social distance of six feet from other people
- In any indoor location where members of the public are generally permitted
- Waiting, riding, driving or operating public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private care service or ride-sharing vehicle.
- Obtaining services from the health care sector in certain settings like hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, doctor and dentist offices and other similar areas.
- Engaged in work, whether off site or at the workplace, when you have to interact with the public
Those who are not required to wear a face mask include those who cannot due to a medical condition, when it creates an unsafe condition, those under two years of age, or communicating with someone who is hearing impaired or has another disability where the ability to see the mouth is necessary.
