Mask Mandate Comes Back In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — With increasing cases and hospitalizations, Philadelphia is once again enacting a mask mandate for indoor spaces. Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole Wednesday said as of midnight, the mask mandate will go into effect.

The mandate requires masks be worn when going into any business or institution.

Additionally, restaurants and bars will be required to have all staff and customers wearing masks, except when customers are seating and eating or drinking.

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However, these mandates change in places that require vaccination.

"If a business or institution is requiring that everyone, including staff, be fully vaccinated before entering, then no one in that place needs to wear a mask," Bettigole said.

Bettigole also said unseated outdoor gatherings of more than 1,000 people will also be included in the mask mandate. She did not say whether vaccine requirements at such events affect the mandate.

When asked about potential lockdowns, Mayor Jim Kenney said people need to "act like a mature adult" to avoid another situation like that.

"I'm upset that people just can't act the way they're supposed to act and do what's good for everybody," he said.

Bettigole said the best way to avoid that is to get vaccinated.

"It's easy, it's free, it's safe and, it's extremely effective," she said.

On July 5, Philadelphia reported the lowest number of average new cases of the pandemic, when the city averaged 23 new cases per day. On Monday, the average new cases reported by the city was 180. The average number of new cases per day in Philadelphia has doubled three times in a month.

The rate of increase is slowing, Bettigole said, but it's still substantial.

On July 19, the city reported only 48 people in Philadelphia hospitals due to COVID. On Monday, the city reported 118 people in Philadelphia hospitals due to COVID, more than double the previous low. As of Monday, 13 of those patients are on ventilators.

Another mandate being instituted affects city employees starting Sept. 1.

New hires by the city will be required to be fully vaccinated. Current employees must be vaccinated or wear two masks when indoors with others.

Bettigole said the best practice for double masking is wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask. She said double masking is nearly as effective as wearing an N95 mask.

"It does seem cumbersome," she said. "But you can get vaccinated."

Officials are also offering a new way to get a new copy of the CDC vaccination cards provided after vaccination if they are damaged or lost.

To get a new copy, call the city's COVID Call Center at 215-685-5488 or email covid@phila.gov and staff will help you get a new card.