PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's indoor mask mandate could be returning after a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city. PREVIOUS: Philadelphia health department recommends indoor masking amid jump in COVID-19 infectionsLocal health experts have recommended a return to wearing masks in public indoor spaces to fight the growing number of COVID-19 infections.Last week, the Philadelphia Department of Health said coronavirus cases in the city increased by more than 50% in a ten-day span. "As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr.
Cheryl Bettigole said. "That means that now is the time to start taking precautions." Philadelphia is currently in the All Clear tier of the city's COVID-19 response levels, with daily cases less than 100 and hospitalizations fewer than 50, but that could change due to new COVID-19 case data.
Bettigole says the new uptick in cases is due to the new BA. 2 omicron variant, which is now the most dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States.
Health experts are recommending that maks be worn indoors again as COVID-19 cases begin to rise again. Dr. Mike joins Good Day to explain.The city dropped the vaccine mandate for indoor dining in February, followed by dropping the mask mandate in March.