Philadelphia's new public indoor masking requirement, which took effect Monday, is ending Friday morning, city health officials said Thursday night. The city Board of Health said it voted to rescind the mandate Thursday in part because of "decreasing hospitalizations and a leveling of case counts." The health board's April 11 announcement that masks would be required again was also met with threats of legal challenges.
"We're in a situation that we really had not anticipated being in this soon, but it is good news," acting Philadelphia health commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said at Thursday's meeting. "So I'm really very happy ... to say it appears that we no longer need to mandate masks in Philadelphia and that we can actually move to simply a strong recommendation."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Her Lotus Year: Paul French's new biography sets lurid rumours straightThe Week Recommends Wallis Simpson's year in China is less scandalous, but 'more interesting' than previously thought
-
Today's political cartoons - November 21, 2024Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - wild cards, wild turkeys, and more
-
Say Nothing: 'sensational' dramatisation of Patrick Radden Keefe's bestselling bookThe Week Recommends The series is a 'powerful reminder' of the Troubles
-
A growing iodine deficiency could bring back America's goiterUnder the Radar Ailment is back thanks to complacency, changing diets and a lack of public-health education
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 raceSpeed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
-
McDonald's sued over E. coli linked to burgerSpeed Read The outbreak has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states and left one dead
-
Flame retardants found in black plastics could have health consequencesUnder the Radar Time to replace your kitchen tools
-
Long Covid: study shows damage to brain's 'control centre'The Explainer Research could help scientists understand long-term effects of Covid-19 as well as conditions such as MS and dementia
-
Preeclampsia: The dangerous pregnancy condition is affecting more womenUnder the Radar The condition of preeclampsia is on the rise and can be deadly if left untreated
-
The EEE virus is spreading in the USThe Explainer The mosquito strikes again
-
Baby food is not as healthy as it should beUnder the Radar Labels are leaving things out. And brands are highlighting only what they want to.
