PHILADELPHIA — Alone among major U.S. cities, Philadelphia soon will again require masks indoors at all restaurants, shops, offices and other indoor public spaces next week, the city health department announced Monday. Businesses can opt to require proof of vaccination instead of requiring masks.
The mandate takes effect April 18, city Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said, to give businesses time to adjust, though she encouraged Philadelphians to start wearing masks indoors in public spaces immediately. Philadelphia is the first large American city to respond to rising COVID-19 cases in recent weeks by reintroducing an indoor mask mandate.
“I sincerely wish we didn’t have to do this again,” Bettigole said. “I wish this pandemic was over just as much as any of you.”
