The Pennsylvania health secretary said on Monday that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear a face mask in certain indoor situations, but should wear it in public.
It marks a revision of the Pennsylvania mask wearing order, issued on November 17 and is based on the revised guidelines from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the revised CDC guidelines, people who are fully vaccinated can resume:
- Visiting with other people totally vaccinated inside the house without wearing masks or having to distance themselves socially;
- Visiting unvaccinated people from a single residence with a low risk of complications with COVID-19, without wearing masks or having social distance.
- In addition, people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to quarantine or get tested if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, as long as they have no symptoms.
Pennsylvania acting health secretary Alison Beam said people who are fully vaccinated are “potentially” less likely to spread COVID-19, but more research is needed on how long their protection lasts and how well the vaccine protects against variant strains. Therefore, “some preventive measures will remain in place for all people, regardless of their vaccination status,” said Beam.
Beam said people who are fully vaccinated should continue to wear face masks in public and use social detachment, avoid medium and large meetings and get tested if they experience symptoms.
Two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are required to be fully vaccinated and one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.