Because of high rates of vaccination, the commonwealth’s mask order will be lifted by June 28. Author: WNEP Web Staff Updated: 12:06 PM EDT May 27, 2021
HARRISBURG, Pa. State health officials plan to lift the mask mandate next month, according to acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam.
Beam announced Thursday morning that the commonwealth’s mask order will be lifted by June 28.
Citing the number of people vaccinated in Pennsylvania, Beam noted that the state is on track to have 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated by the end of June. More than 70 percent of Pennsylvanians have already received the first shot of the vaccine.
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As vaccine rates slow with the threat of a new surge looming this fall, elected officials on both sides of the aisle are stepping forward to encourage constituents to get a covid-19 vaccine even as they acknowledge this is a personal decision.
While experts say such efforts could be a double-edged sword at reelection time and will appeal to a limited group, they say every bit could help sway someone who is on the fence.
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R- Hempfield, spoke publicly last week about her decision to get vaccinated and encouraged others to take the leap, saying, “It can’t hurt,” and it could speed the return to normalcy. She said she’s been careful to stress she does not support forced vaccination. Despite that caveat, she said her local office informed her it received some negative calls after the Tribune-Review reported on her
PA DEPT OF HEALTH OPENS PHASE TWO OF VACCINE PLAN TODAY wdadradio.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wdadradio.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The state-run regional vaccination clinic at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center is on a temporary hiatus until at least April 20 as Pennsylvania follows federal guidance to pause administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
“As soon as the federal guidance was issued we likewise followed suit and paused that clinic at this time until we await further guidance from the federal government,” Acting Secretary of Health Allison Beam said during a news conference on Tuesday.
The clinic, operated by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health, opened on Friday and planned to vaccinate up to 600 people a day, five days a week, using the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
This story has been updated with additional details
Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center will serve as the site for a regional COVID-19 vaccination clinic operated by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health.
According to a joint statement from PEMA and the health department, the clinic will begin administering the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine by appointment to individuals in Pennsylvania’s Phase 1A and 1B eligibility at noon on Friday, with appointments also available for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Registration for appointments at the clinic are available at pema.trackmyvaccine.com or by calling 1-844-545-3450. The clinic is open to anyone who is eligible regardless of county of residence, including Penn State students from out of state.