Pennsylvania could wear masks ‘until end of 2021’, health secretary says

The coronavirus vaccines could start arriving in Pennsylvania as early as next month – but don’t put your mask away anytime soon, the state’s top health official said Thursday, according to a report.

Dr Rachel Levine, state health secretary, warned that the first vaccines that will receive government approval will likely be scarce at first – health workers, first responders and those most at risk should be treated first.

This means that most residents of Pennsylvania can expect to wear masks “until 2021, maybe until the end of 2021,” Levine said, according to PennLive.com.

Levine’s remarks came as drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna both prepared – likely on Friday – to seek emergency approval of their vaccines, which officials say show efficacy rates above 90 %.

If approved, vaccines will begin to be available in the coming weeks.

PENNSYLVANIA. GOV. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW COVID RULES, INCLUDING THE WEARING OF A MASK IN YOUR HOME

“We anticipate that we’ll be rolling it out throughout the winter, and then into the spring and summer,” Levine said, according to PennLive.com, adding, “It could take a long time to get everyone in Pennsylvania vaccinated. “

Levine’s comments came two days after Pennsylvania officials announced they planned to take additional measures to deal with a sharp rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, including requiring masks to be worn at inside, with a few exceptions.

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Additionally, starting Friday, anyone entering Pennsylvania must be tested at least 72 hours before arrival, and if they can or cannot take a test, they must be quarantined for 14 days. The ordinance does not apply to people traveling to neighboring states for work or health care, officials said, and will be widely enforced on its own.

By early Friday, Pennsylvania had recorded more than 294,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 9,500 deaths, with 2.9 million residents tested and a 9.9% positivity rate, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Frank Miles of Fox News contributed to this story.