Posted on 11/17/2020 10:52:51 AM PST by lightman
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said she is expanding the state’s order on wearing masks to cover all outdoor and indoor areas.
In a news conference Tuesday, Levine said the mask order covers requires wearing face coverings at schools, gyms, doctors offices, public transportation and anywhere food is packaged or served. Essentially, the order calls for wearing masks when leaving your household.
“We must all be diligent in wearing masks all the time,” Levine said.
Levine announced the expanded mask order as part of a handful of “targeted” and “strategic” steps to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus, as the state sees more infections and hospitalizations.
Citing dire projections by the White House coronavirus task force, Levine said she’s urging hospital officials to prepare for a surge in patients. Levine said hospitals should consider rescheduling elective surgeries if they can be delayed and prepare to reduce those procedures.
As more COVID-19 patients require treatment in hospitals, Levine cited projections that show Pennsylvania hospitals could run out of intensive care unit beds in December. She urged hospitals and health care systems to draw up plans now to help each other if some facilities are filled to capacity.
So far, hospitals and health care systems are doing well even as cases have risen in recent weeks. Levine stopped short of ordering hospitals to halt elective surgeries, as the state did in the spring. She said some health care systems in the Philadelphia region and northeastern Pennsylvania are seeking more challenges.
In addition, Levine said she’s issued an order calling for those visiting Pennsylvania from other states to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entering the state or to self-quarantine for 14 days. Levine said that order doesn’t apply to those who routinely cross state lines for work, although she recommends people work from home as much as possible.
The health department has recorded a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks. Across Pennsylvania, 59 of the state’s 67 counties now have substantial spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Monday.
On Tuesday, the state reported 5,900 new coronavirus cases, marking a one-day high. But the state has broken its record for daily cases with regularity in November.
More people are being treated in hospitals for the coronavirus. The health department reports 2,575 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, a number that has more than doubled over the past two weeks. It’s still below the peak of 3,000 in the spring but health officials have said they are concerned about the rise in hospitalizations. Levine said Tuesday she expects the number of hospitalizations to rise.
State officials note the rate of positive tests has risen to 9.6%, up from 6.9% the previous week. Health officials stress the rise in cases isn’t simply a result of more people being tested; a higher percentage of people are testing positive for COVID-19.
Some areas haven’t waited for state officials to take more aggressive action. Philadelphia city officials announced a host of measures Monday, including barring indoor restaurant dining and indoor gatherings. Montgomery County schools have ordered schools to shift to remote learning for a two-week period.
Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have announced broader statewide measures in recent days.
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy limited indoor gatherings to 10 people, down from 25, and outdoor events to 150, down from the previous limit of 500. New Jersey restaurants are ordered to close at 10 p.m. Last week, New York also enacted a statewide 10 p.m. curfew for bars, restaurants and gyms, although it allows curbside pickup and delivery of non-alcohol orders after 10 p.m.
“...The PA health secretary can go fornicate himself....”
He can’t. He deliberately cut his “junk” off in the clinic’s restroom after they refused to do the operation due to his mental instability. He’s also a dead-beat dad. Belongs in a mental institution, NOT govt.
Dude don’t look like a lady.
When this supposed "surge" in hospitalizations doesn't materialize, will the "officials" admit that they got it wrong? Probably not.
They will just say, "You see?" "These additional draconian measures worked", thereby opening the door to more over-reaching government control.
I am in NJ and I plan on going to my sister's house in PA for Christmas with several other family members on her husband's side.
I will not be wearing a mask, nor will I be quarantining before crossing the state line into PA.
The he/she, Tiny Tim look-a-like can get bent.
That’s a good question.
Cui bono?
‘The he/she, Tiny Tim look-a-like can get bent.’
how can you say such a terrible thing about a human being? Tiny Tim was much better looking than L’il Richie...
If anyone needs a mask it’s her, I mean him, I mean, oh, never mind.
A serious question: How could this be enforced?
I have a friend flying down from PA tomorrow to visit me in FL.
Is she going to have a tough time flying back to PA next week? Is it feasible they’d refuse to let her leave the PA airport?
I go to PA frequently for my job, visiting construction sites. I don’t see builders complying. I certainly have no plans to comply.
Public transit leaves a footprint....PA DOH can track who has entered through train, planes, and buses.
So there may be some information disseminated on the plane or arrival gate area about the testing/quarantine recommendation.
At this point there is no active enforcement. I suspect that will change.
Sound reasoning. Thanks for your input.
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