PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia is ending its indoor masks mandate, metropolis well being officers stated Thursday night time, abruptly reversing course simply days after metropolis residents needed to begin sporting masks once more amid a pointy improve in infections.
The Board of Well being voted Thursday to rescind the mandate, based on the Philadelphia well being division, which launched an announcement that cited “lowering hospitalizations and a leveling of case counts.”
The mandate went into impact Monday.
The well being division didn’t launch knowledge to again up its reversal on masking, saying extra data could be offered Friday. Philadelphia had grow to be the primary main U.S. metropolis to reinstate its indoor masks mandate, however confronted fierce blowback in addition to a authorized effort to get the mandate thrown out.
“The Metropolis will transfer to strongly recommending masks in indoor public areas versus a masks mandate,” the well being division stated in an announcement.
Town didn’t present extra particulars on when the mandate could be lifted.
