PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania is now the 10th state in the country to hit a COVID-19 vaccination milestone: Seventy percent of adults have received at least one dose.
As the state gets closer to its own goal, officials say they will completely lift the mask mandate when 70% of adults are fully vaccinated, or on June 28, whichever comes first.
Andy Slavitt, the head of the White House COVID-19 Response Team, tweeted a congratulatory message Wednesday afternoon to Pennsylvania for making the list.
Gov. Tom Wolf released a statement shortly thereafter, acknowledging the sacrifices Pennsylvanians have been making for more than a year to keep themselves and their family, friends and neighbors safe from the virus.
"Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pennsylvanians have come together to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy and safe. This selflessness is now reflected in vaccination rates throughout the commonwealth," he said.
"The vaccines are our best defense against this deadly virus. The light is shining bright at the end of this tunnel, but we must continue to stay the course. I encourage everyone to show up for their second vaccine appointment and take pride in doing your part to help protect individuals who are unable to get vaccinated."
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New Jersey was No. 7 to join the list, which also includes Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and New Mexico. Delaware is one of 10 states that has reached at least 65%.
The 70% figure is significant because that is the goal President Joe Biden set for the United States to reach by the Fourth of July. As of Wednesday, the nation as a whole had reached 62%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before Wednesday’s announcement about Pennsylvania — despite downward trends for COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations and deaths — Wolf said the commonwealth would not lift its coronavirus restrictions before Memorial Day.
"We've been lifting restrictions as we go along," Wolf said to reporters at an event in Lancaster. "They’ll be fully lifted on May 31. I’m comfortable, and I think most Pennsylvanians are, too, that we’re doing the right thing."
While most of the mitigation efforts come to an end on Memorial Day, Pennsylvania’s mask mandate will remain in place either until June 28 or until 70% of adults are fully vaccinated.
As of Wednesday, about 52% of adults in Pennsylvania are fully vaccinated, meaning they received their final dose at least two weeks ago.
“We are on track to get to 70% of adults with second doses by the end of June,” said acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam. “Even when the statewide masking order is lifted, we will continue to follow CDC guidance on masking in certain locations. Businesses, municipalities and school districts may continue requiring to wear masks.”
Currently, masking is optional for fully vaccinated people unless a business or local government requires otherwise.