The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Friday that businesses, schools, and organizations are able to continue to requiring mask wearing for vaccinated people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidance Thursday to state that fully-vaccinated Americans don’t have to wear masks or remain physically distant in most situations. They noted that unvaccinated people need to remain masked.
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Shortly after the surprise announcement, Pennsylvania health officials adopted the federal health authorities’ guidance.
In the time since the announcement, Levittown-area businesses have taken different approaches. Some are keeping masking in place for right now and others have dropped the requirement for fully vaccinated customers and employees.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Health reminds Pennsylvanians that fully vaccinated individuals may choose not to wear a mask, unless a business or organization, such as a school, requires that added layer of protection, in accordance with updated masking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” a statement from state officials said.
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Mask wearing and physical distancing have been shown to be easy and effective ways to cut down on the spread of COVID-19.
Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker said Thursday that he believes businesses should make their own policies following the latest guidance and customers should comply wit their rules. Generally, he agreed with the federal guidance change and thought it was the right move.
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“By getting vaccinated with one of the three safe and effective vaccines, you are adding the best layer of protection for yourself and others,” Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “If you are fully vaccinated, it is an incentive to be able to remove your mask, but businesses and workplaces may still require this added layer of protection for their employees or customers that may have underlying conditions that continue to make them vulnerable to this virus. We ask that Pennsylvanians continue to be kind and respectful to each other as we continue to fight COVID-19 in our communities and continue to get residents vaccinated.”
Pennsylvania’s masking order remains in effect for unvaccinated individuals, including children. Gov. Tom Wolf has said the health department’s order will end once 70 percent of Pennsylvanians over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated.
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