Jenkintown Borough continues to update the opens in a new windowBorough website with the latest COVID-19 information and community resources that have been provided by County, State and Federal agencies.
Governor Tom Wolf announced a new opens in a new windoworderopens PDF file on July 1st signed by Dr. Levine that takes the mask-wearing directive one step further, expanding on the opens in a new windowbusiness safety orderopens PDF file signed by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine in April that requires the wearing of masks in businesses. The full details on the mask expanding directive from the Governor’s News Room is provided below:
Masks Are Mandatory in All Public Spaces
Expanding on the opens in a new windowbusiness safety orderopens PDF file signed by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine in April that requires the wearing of masks in businesses, Governor Tom Wolf today announced a new opens in a new windoworderopens PDF file signed by Dr. Levine that takes the mask-wearing directive one step further.
With this order, signed under Dr. Levine’s authority under the Disease Prevention and Control Act, masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home. The order takes effect immediately.
“This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing – two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening.”
The order outlines the situations when a mask must be worn and includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement.
Each of the state’s mitigation efforts has helped to slow the spread of COVID-19, kept our health care systems from being overwhelmed, and allowed for Gov. Wolf’s measured, phased reopening to proceed. But, with nearly every county is the green phase of reopening, complacency cannot be the norm.
“It is essential that Pennsylvanians wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “While cases increase in some areas, we cannot become complacent. My mask protects you, and your mask protects me. Wearing a mask shows that you care about others, and that you are committed to protecting the lives of those around you.”
More and more health experts have called for mask wearing, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who said during a June 30 Senate hearing on COVID-19, “Americans who don’t wear masks may ‘propagate the further spread of infection.’”
The mask-wearing order will be sent to state and local officials, law enforcement and others tasked with education about the order for those not in compliance.
The Borough continues to encourage everyone to continue to follow the Governor’s latest orders as well as opens in a new windowCDC guidelines including washing hands often, social distancing and wearing face coverings while around others.
Thank you all. Be safe and stay well!