Philadelphia Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate As Covid 19 Cases Rise Across City

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Public Health on Monday afternoon during a press conference. CO Due to the increasing incidence of COVID-19, @PhiladelphiaGov will go to Level 2: Mask Precautions from today. In order to provide a one-week training period for businesses, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces from Monday 18 April 2022. (1/4) – Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) April 11, 2022 The Commissioner for Health Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said the precaution for the masks starts on Monday, but to provide a one-week business training period, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces from Monday, April 18th. From April 18, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, including schools and kindergartens, businesses, restaurants and government buildings. At that time, residents will be asked to report any business that does not comply with the 311 order. Bettigole cited the rise in COVID cases as the reason the city is reinstating mask requirements for indoor public spaces. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50% in 10 days. The health department says the city will move to Level 2: Mask Precautions according to the COVID-19 Response Guidelines. Level 2 is achieved when the city meets two of the following three criteria:

The average number of new cases per day is less than 225

There are less than 100 hospitalizations

Cases have increased by more than 50% in the past 10 days.

title: “Philadelphia Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate As Covid 19 Cases Rise Across City " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-05” author: “Emanuel Fruits”

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Public Health on Monday afternoon during a press conference. CO Due to the increasing incidence of COVID-19, @PhiladelphiaGov will go to Level 2: Mask Precautions from today. In order to provide a one-week training period for businesses, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces from Monday 18 April 2022. (1/4) – Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) April 11, 2022 The Commissioner for Health Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said the precaution for the masks starts on Monday, but to provide a one-week business training period, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces from Monday, April 18th. “If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections was followed by a wave of hospitalizations and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents,” Bettigole said, noting about 750 in Philadelphia. residents died in the Omicron outbreak in winter. “This is our chance to prevent the pandemic, to put on our masks until we have more information about the seriousness of this new variant.” From April 18, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, including schools and kindergartens, businesses, restaurants and government buildings. At that time, residents will be asked to report any business that does not comply with the 311 order. Bettigole cited the rise in COVID cases as the reason why the city is reinstating mask requirements for indoor public spaces. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50% in 10 days. The health department says the city will move to Level 2: Mask Precautions according to the COVID-19 Response Guidelines. Level 2 is achieved when the city meets two of the following three criteria:

The average number of new cases per day is less than 225

There are less than 100 hospitalizations

Cases have increased by more than 50% in the past 10 days.

In Level 2, you must wear a mask when indoors in public places. However, there is no vaccine or test requirement for places serving food or drink below Level 2. The city had lifted its indoor mask order and moved to All Clear Level 1 on Wednesday, March 2nd. Now, 41 days later, the city is restoring it. The restaurant industry opposed the order, saying employees would carry the brunt of customers’ anger over the new rules. “This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other players in the city who hoped this spring would be the beginning of a recovery,” said Ben Fileccia, senior business director at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. Consultant Allan Domb said business owners are calling his office to express their concerns. This spring was thought to be the return for many businesses, including restaurants that were lucky enough to survive months of closure and restrictions during the pandemic. Dealing with a mask command by @prlaorg “This announcement is a major blow to the thousands of small businesses and other entities in the city that hoped this spring to be the beginning of a recovery.” https://t.co/GuQDybp8Rx – Annie McCormick (@ 6abcAnnie) April 11, 2022 Restoring a mask order worries some that customers may simply decide to go elsewhere, such as New Jersey or counties that have not had restrictions for months. “I hope I can go to the health commissioner and try to convince her that we need to look at other options – we may recommend it unreservedly but not necessarily,” Domb said. PolicyLab at Philadelphia Pediatric Hospital said Friday that while expecting some increased transmission in the northern United States in the coming weeks, hospital admissions remained low and “our team advises not to require coverage as the hospital capacity is good.” Bettigole said requiring people to meet would help keep restaurants and other businesses open, and a huge new wave of COVID-19s would keep customers at home. She said the hospital’s capacity was only one factor in her decision to reinstate the order. “I sincerely hope we do not have to do this again,” Bettigole said. “But I’m very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright © 2022 WPVI-TV. All rights reserved.