As the omicron surge begins to fade in the United States, more states lift mask rules and many citizens are tired of regulations.
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday the office was focusing on relevant guidelines and would support measures where they were most required to protect public health.
Philadelphia is joining a growing list of cities that will no longer require proof of vaccination to enter places that serve food or drink. https://t.co/sD2Q9WIg9A
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 17, 2022
New Measures in Place
At a news event on Wednesday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole announced the city will no longer require vaccinations for indoor dining facilities.
Kenney and Bettigole said they were going to use a new method to make decisions about COVID-19 limits.
At the briefing, Bettigole stated, “as of today, we no longer need to ensure our city’s dining places verify immunizations. Our restaurants and places of entertainment have suffered as a result of Philadelphia’s vaccination mandate for eating venues.”
According to her, “Case rates are down everywhere, but they’re lower farther and quicker in Philadelphia than they are in several other sections of the state and nation.”
In addition to measuring four important indicators, Bettigole clarified the new plan the city will use to roll back COVID-19 constraints will also observe the rate of change in cases.
These metrics include the number of COVID-19 instances that have been reported, hospital admissions, test positivity rate increases, and the rate of change in instances.
Labels such as “Caution,” “Extreme Caution,” “Mask Precaution Only,” and “All Clear” will be used by the city.
Labels for Society
If you work in an establishment that serves food, you must provide evidence of immunization. If you work in a public area that serves food, you must wear a mask.
For locations that sell food, “Caution” demands proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours; it also requires masks to be worn in indoor public venues.
When it comes to “Mask Precautions Only,” there is no requirement for proof of vaccination; although masks must be worn in indoor public locations.
Except in classrooms, healthcare institutions, and public transportation, “All Clear” signifies there will be no vaccination or mask needs.
Philadelphia lifts vaccine mandate for indoor dining, but indoor mask mandate remains in place. https://t.co/zElNd7dNzc
— The Morning Call (@mcall) February 16, 2022
According to Bettigole, the city of Philadelphia is now in the Mask Precautions Only category. The vaccination requirement will be terminated immediately as a result of this.
Bettigole explained when the COVID vaccination mandate was announced, Philadelphia was in the middle of the omicron surge. Just 27.5 percent of the city’s children aged five to 11 had received their first shot of the COVID vaccine.
Presently, cases are decreasing significantly. 53.1 percent of the city’s five to 11-year-olds have received their first dose of vaccination.
Delaware, Connecticut, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. are among the Democrat states and localities that have scaled-down COVID-19 prohibitions in recent weeks.
