Mask Mandate Still In Effect For All Philadelphia Schools, Day Cares And Early Childhood Education Settings, Health Officials Say

CBS Philadelphia

December 11, 2021

A mask mandate is still in effect for schools, daycares and early childhood education settings in the City of Philadelphia, despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court throwing out the statewide school mask mandate on Friday. The Philadelphia Health Department says the indoor mask mandate issued on Aug. 12 is still in force.

The mandate applies to all schools, day cares and early childhood education settings in Philadelphia.

“We are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to end the state’s mask mandate in schools,” Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said. “One of the most likely reasons that Philadelphia’s rates of COVID infection have been lower than most counties in Pennsylvania, despite the fact that we are the most densely populated county in the state and the poorest big city in the country, is our indoor mask mandate. Masks have been found time and again to be protective against COVID-19 transmission. This protection is particularly important in indoor settings where not everyone may be vaccinated and is crucial now, given the wave of COVID cases hitting the country. That’s why all Philadelphia schools, day cares, and early childhood educations settings are still mandated to require masks. With the combination of indoor mask mandate and our high vaccine rate, we hope to get through this winter safely.”

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