PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The City of Philadelphia is dropping its indoor mask requirement, effective immediately.
The city said COVID-19 metrics have decreased enough that it is moving to the “all clear” response level.
Listen to Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole's announcement below:
However, high-risk settings, like schools, health care facilities and public transit, must continue to enforce the mask mandate.
The city will reevaluate the data for schools and may consider ending the rule on March 9, if numbers continue to decline. The city will also impose a weeklong mask requirement after spring break to fend off a potential COVID-19 surge.
School District of Philadelphia spokesperson Monica Lewis said after March 9, masks will still be required in pre-K and Head Start programs, as well as on school buses.
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Businesses can choose to continue enforcing masks or proof of vaccination if they choose.
Masking will continue in city buildings until March 7, then become optional.
COVID-19 numbers are reaching the lowest levels since last summer. New cases are below 100 a day, and the percent of tests coming back positive is below 2%.
On this episode of The Jawncast, digging into the details and what went into this decision to drop the mask mandate from KYW Newsradio's City Hall Bureau Chief Pat Loeb.:
“Each of us is now responsible for our own risk and the risk we take for the people we love, so think about your risk budget, if you want to think of it that way,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole at Wednesday morning’s city briefing.
“When is it worth it to you to take off your mask and take some additional risk — because there’s still COVID out there — and when do you want to keep your mask on, because it doesn’t matter that much?”
The health department asserted some people may still want to wear masks, and that’s OK too.
“There’s nothing wrong with this and these people do not deserve harassment,” it said in a statement. “Some may have a family member that is at high-risk, some may be sick and are actually protecting you, and some may just want to be safe. All of those, and more, are valid reasons to keep wearing masks.”
Bettigole noted the mandate could return if there’s another variant that sends cases soaring again. For now. more than 1 million Philadelphians are fully vaccinated, giving the city a high level of protection.