How Long Will We Be Wearing Masks In PA? Officials Weigh In

PENNSYLVANIA — As some states around the country announce the easing of masking requirements, Pennsylvania has no plans to follow in their path anytime soon.

Texas and Mississippi drew national attention last week when they said they would no longer require masks to be worn in public places. Both states also relaxed several other coronavirus mitigation measures. President Joe Biden called it "neanderthal thinking," and Gov. Tom Wolf said that the state will stay the course will its current mask requirements.

"We need to make sure we're not taking our foot off the gas pedal too soon," Wolf said. "If I were in Texas, I'd be concerned that this is just a little too soon."

Wolf said significant improvements had been made in controlling the virus, and that the CDC had noted "great progress" in the area. "But we're at unacceptably high levels, and we seem to have reached a plateau," in terms of reducing cases, he said.

While the mask mandate is not currently on the table, Pennsylvania has relaxed some of their other strictest measures in recent weeks. The maximum occupancy limits for indoor events are now are at 15 percent, while outdoor venue attendance is capped at 20 percent. Masks and social distancing measures are still required at all venues. The maximum occupancy limit includes staff, according to the revised order.

The CDC recently ruled that vaccinated people can gather outside with masks. However, most states are still a long way away from vaccinating their entire population, meaning that millions remain at risk. In Pennsylvania, case numbers and the spread of the virus have significantly decreased, but the virus is still present in the community.

Even with the warmer weather and vaccinations continuing at an increasing rate, the state has about the same number of cases, same percent positivity rate on tests, and same hospitalization rate as it did in early last fall, before the fall surge gained momentum.

Among those critical of the Texas and Mississippi decisions was Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert.

"I don't know why they're doing it, but it's certainly, from a public health standpoint, ill-advised," Fauci told CNN on Thursday.

In addition, Arizona, California and South Carolina also joined the growing list of states relaxing restrictions. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ended capacity limits on businesses but stopped short of removing a mask mandate, according to The New York Times. In South Carolina, the state's Republican governor lifted the state's mask mandate in government buildings.

As for when Pennsylvania might eventually ease up on its mask mandate, they have not hinted at any dates, or any benchmarks needed to reach that goal. However, Fauci has previously said that masks are likely to be needed into 2022.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination in Pennsylvania, visit Patch's information hub.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Megan Ver Helst