Governor Wolf announced today that masks are now mandatory and must be worn whenever anyone will be in a public place. The order outlines the situations when a mask must be worn and includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement.

This order extends the business safety order signed by Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, in April. This order takes effect immediately.

“This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing – two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening.” - Gov. Wolf

Face coverings are required if you are:

Outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet from individuals who are not members of your household;
In any indoor location where members of the public are generally permitted;
Waiting for, riding on, driving or operating public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle;
Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic or blood bank;
Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when interacting in-person with any member of the public, working in any space visited by members of the public, working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others, working in or walking through common areas, or in any room or an enclosed area where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or residence, are present when unable to physically distance.

Exceptions to the face mask requirement include:

Individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition, including those with respiratory issues that impede breathing, mental health condition or disability;
Individuals for whom wearing a mask while working would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task as determined by local, state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines;
Individuals who would be unable to remove a mask without assistance;
Individuals who are under two years of age;
Individuals who are communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

Individuals are not required to show documentation that an exception applies to them.

The full order is available HERE. You can read more about the announcement HERE.

“It is essential that Pennsylvanians wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “While cases increase in some areas, we cannot become complacent. My mask protects you, and your mask protects me. Wearing a mask shows that you care about others, and that you are committed to protecting the lives of those around you.” - Dr. Levine.

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