CHICAGO — Philadelphia this week became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate because of a sharp increase in reported coronavirus cases, perhaps leaving some wondering whether Chicago will be next.
Philadelphia’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, said in a COVID-19 briefing Monday that Philadelphia was averaging 142 cases every day — a count 50% higher than what officials saw in the area 10 days ago. Add to that, a spike in COVID cases in the Northeast portion of the country, and it would be natural for Chicagoans to wonder whether a step back is imminent.
But maybe not so fast.
