PA Lifts Mask Order: Here's Who Still Has To Wear Them, And Where

PENNSYLVANIA — In the latest sign that the pandemic is coming to an end as residents of Pennsylvania know it, health officials lifted the mask mandate on Monday, bringing an end to some 14 months of a public health precaution unprecedented in the modern era. The mask mandate was the last major mitigation measure that remained in place in the state.

The lifting of the restriction came despite the fact that the state has not yet reached the benchmark of fully vaccinating 70 percent of adults. Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf said that restrictions would be lifted either by June 28, or when the 70 percent mark was reached. Currently, 59.4 percent of the state's 18 and over population is fully vaccinated; 62.2 percent of the entire population has at least one shot.

Even though the mandate is lifted, local governments, businesses, and healthcare providers can still require anyone to wear a mask, regardless of whether or not they've received the vaccine. And the state is advising the public to remain cautious.

“As we shift to wearing masks less often, it is important to remain resilient in the fight against COVID-19, just as we have done together over the last year and a half,” Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said in a statement, urging any unvaccinated residents to register for a shot.

All unvaccinated and partially vaccinated residents are still encouraged to wear a mask in public.

The CDC's guidance still requires all individuals to wear masks when traveling on planes, trains, buses, and other forms of public transit, both domestically and internationally. Transportation hubs, like airports and stations, should also mandate masks, the CDC says.

Guidance on quarantining also remains in place; if you believe you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, and you have not yet been vaccinated, you should self-isolate, the CDC says.

Heading into the summer, the next phase of vaccinations will likely involve younger children. Health officials expect emergency use authorizations for multiple vaccines to be granted to all school age children in order to inoculate them before they return to school next fall. Currently, all children 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

To learn more about the vaccines and register for a shot with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, see here.