May 2020 CDC study found: …no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.
“When you wear a mask, whether you’re walking on the street or inside a grocery store or shopping at a retail store or even outside in a park, it is a sign to the whole community and to our commonwealth that we’re all in this together,” said Health Secretary Rachel Levine
Levine cites a 2019 CDC study as Wolf’s justification for his outrageous assertion that he now has the new found power to dictate orders in your home and states: Given the method by which the virus spreads, universal face coverings, even when not clinical-level masks, have been an effective mitigation strategy to prevent and control the spread of disease.
While a May 2020 meta-study by the same CDC found: There is limited evidence for [disposable medical masks] effectiveness in preventing influenza virus transmission either when worn by the infected person for source control or when worn by uninfected persons to reduce exposure. Our systematic review found no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza. (Source)
PA gov announces new COVID rules, including wearing a mask in your house
November 17, 2020
The state is reporting more than 5,000 new infections per day, up more than 115% in two weeks
Pennsylvania is planning to take additional steps to address a sharp increase in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, including requiring masks to be worn indoors with limited exceptions, officials said Tuesday.
In addition, starting Friday, anyone who enters Pennsylvania must be tested at least 72 hours before arrival, and if they can or do not get a test, they must quarantine for 14 days. The order does not apply to people who commute to neighboring states for work or health care, officials said, and will be largely self-enforced. [If you travel to New York City daily on a crowded bus or van from Hazleton for work you are exempted.]
Pennsylvania already has a statewide mask mandate, limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings and occupancy restrictions at bars and restaurants.
But the new rules go even further. Masks are required outside where it isn’t possible to maintain at least a six-foot distance from others, according to the order, and inside where people from multiple households are gathering, even if they can maintain a social distance.
Like the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania has seen coronavirus infections explode in recent weeks. The state is reporting more than 5,000 new infections per day, up more than 115% in just two weeks, and hospitalizations and the percentage of tests coming back positive are up sharply. Deaths are on the rise, as well.
Governors and mayors around the country have been tightening restrictions in response to the worsening pandemic.
[snip]
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf imposed a state-at-home order and shuttered businesses deemed “non-life-sustaining” early in the pandemic. In September though, a judge ruled Wolf’s pandemic restrictions unconstitutional.
Frank Miles is a reporter and editor covering geopolitics, military, crime, technology and sports for FoxNews.com. His email is Frank.Miles@foxnews.com.
UPDATED ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REQUIRING UNIVERSAL FACE COVERINGSThe 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a contagious disease that is spreading rapidly from person to person in the world, the United States, and this Commonwealth. COVID-19 can be transmitted from any person who is infected, even if they have no symptoms. Additionally, exposure is possible by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, anddiarrhea. Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk for serious illness. Illness in children and young adults has become more common as the face of the pandemic continues to change. After a brief respite in the summer months, case counts and the number of hospitalizations havebeen rising throughout the Commonwealth, surrounding states, and the world. As of November16, 2020,there have been 269,613cases and9,325deaths in this Commonwealth caused by thestill present and ongoing pandemic. The Commonwealth and the nation are seeing the highest number of reported cases since the pandemic was declared in January. Earlier in the pandemic, I issued an Order directing life-sustaining businesses to institute mitigation measures to protect the safety of employees and customers:Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Public Health Safety Measures for Businesses Permitted to Maintain In-person Operations,dated April 15, 2020. The Department of Health (Department) has also issued guidance to health care providers in the form of Health Alerts (HANs) regarding isolation and quarantine, intended to allow for the continuation of life-sustaining health care services in the midst of the pandemic. With the measured reopening of the Commonwealth, the Order of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Regarding the Closure of All Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining, dated March 19, 2020, as amended, and my Order Regarding the Closure of all Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining, dated March 19, 2020, as amended, have been suspended. Despite the mitigation efforts thatwere implemented in the spring and successfully saved lives, the pandemic continues to spread, and taking action to prevent that spread while continuing to allow for necessary resumption of economic and social activity requires the Commonwealth to take steps to ensure that participation in those activities contributes as little danger as possible to the people of the Commonwealth.COVID-19 is a threat to the public’s health, for which the Secretary of Health may order general control measures, including, but not limited to, closure, isolation, and quarantine. This authority is granted to the Secretary of Health pursuant to Pennsylvania law. Seesection 5 of the Disease Prevention and Control Law, 35 P.S. § 521.5; sections 2102(a) and 2106 of the Administrative Code of 1929, 71 P.S. §§ 532(a), and 536; and the Department of Health’s regulations at 28 Pa. Code §§ 27.60-27.68 (relating to disease control measures; isolation; quarantine; movement of persons subject to isolation or quarantine; and release from isolation and quarantine). Particularly, the Department of Health has the authority to take any disease control measure appropriate to protect the public from the spread of infectious disease. See 35 P.S. § 521.5; 71 P.S. §§ 532(a), and 1403(a); 28 Pa. Code § 27.60. Under circumstances where social distancing, mask wearing, isolation,and quarantineare the first line of defense against the disease’s spread, and where largeand smallgatherings are spreadingdisease1, the experiences of the Commonwealth(and its and the country’s health experts),and recommendations of the CDC regarding travel and gatherings with persons not habitually together lead me to issue this new Order with new disease control measures regarding universal face coverings.Given the method by which the virus spreads,universal face coverings, even when not clinical-level masks, have been an effectivemitigation strategy to prevent and control the spread of disease. Seehttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html#recent-studies. Experience demonstrates that when used in public settings, face coverings reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. This Order is a criticalmeasure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while minimizing the impact on physical and economic well-being. Accordingly, on this day, November 17,2020,in order to prevent and control the spread of disease, I hereby order:Section 1:Definitions“Alternative to a face covering” may include a plastic face shieldthat covers the nose and mouth,extends below the chin and to the ears, and leaves no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece. The Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised there is currently not enough evidence todetermine how muchprotection a face shield provides to individualsaround the person wearing the face shield, because of gaps where 1Christie Aschwanden,“How ‘Superspreading’ Events Drive Most COVID-19 Spread,” Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-superspreading-events-drive-most-covid-19-spread1/(June 23, 2020); Carl Zimmer, “One Meeting in Boston Seeded Tens of Thousands of Infections, Study Finds,” New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/health/covid-19-superspreaders-boston.html(Aug. 26, 2020); Jacqueline Howard, et al., “ Covid-19 superspreading event in Boston may have led to 20,000 cases, researcher says,” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/25/health/covid-19-superspreading-boston-study/index.html(Aug. 25, 2020);Travis Anderson, “7 coronavirus-related deaths now connected to Maine wedding,” The Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/15/nation/coronavirus-death-toll-linked-maine-wedding-grows-five/; Lea Hamner, et al., “High SARS-CoV-2 Attack Rate Following Exposure at a Choir Practice—Skagit County, Washington, March 2020,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919e6.htm(May 15, 2020); Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-funeral-sparked-a-covid-19-outbreak–and-led-to-many-more-funerals/2020/04/03/546fa0cc-74e6-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html(April 4, 2020); Laxminarayan, et al., Epidemiology and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in two Indian states,” Science, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/29/science.abd7672(September 30, 2020).respiratory droplets may escape.The CDC does state, however, that face shields may still be an option in situations where wearing a cloth face covering is not otherwise feasible.“Face covering” means covering of the nose and mouth with material that is secured to the head with ties, straps,or loops over the ears or is wrapped around the lower face. A “face covering” can be made of a variety of synthetic or natural fabrics, including cotton, silk,or linen. A “face covering” may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or be improvised from household items, including, but not limited to, scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels. While procedural and surgical masks intended for healthcare providers and first responders,such as N95 respirators,meet those requirements, these specialized masks should be reserved for appropriate occupational and health care personnel.“Physical distancing”meansthe practice of staying at least six feet away from others. Social distancing is theterm that was usedearlier in the pandemic as many people stayed home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now, the term physical distancing is used to stress the importance of maintaining physical space when in public areas. “School entity” means a public K-12 school, a brick and mortar andcyber charter school, a private orparochial school, a career andtechnical center (CTCs), andan intermediate unit (IU); educational programming for students in non-educational placements in residential settings (e.g.,boarding schools), residential facilities, detention centers, andhospital settings; a PA Pre-K Countsprogram, Head Start Program andPreschool Early Intervention program; a Private Academic Nursery School and locally funded prekindergarten activities; anda post-secondary institution.“Sustained physical distance” means the practice of staying at least six feet away from others to avoid becoming a close contact. On October 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its definition of close contact to “someone who was within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.” The guidance goes on to note that there are additional factors to consider when defining “close contact.” DOH recommends using 15 consecutive minutes of exposure at a distance of six feet or less as an operational definition for “close contact.” However, there are circumstances when someone should be considered a close contact of a case after being within six feet for fewer than 15 consecutive minutes. Additional factors that should be considered when assessing close contacts include but are not limited to: close proximity to an infected person, infected person exhibiting symptoms, and environmental conditions like crowds or inadequate ventilation.“Working alone” means when a person is isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interruption. Examples include: •A lone worker inside the enclosed cab of a crane of construction equipment. •A person by themselves inside an office with four walls and a door. •A lone worker inside a cubicle with 3 walls and a door or entryway, with walls high enough to block the breathing zone of all people walking by, and the worker’s activity will not require anyone to come inside of the worker’s workspace. •An employee who is alone in an agricultural field or other open area with no anticipated contact with others. Section2:Face Coverings RequiredExcept as provided in Section 3, every individual, age two and older, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall wear a face covering when:A.Indoors or in an enclosed space, where another person or persons who are not members of the individual’s householdare present in the same space,irrespective of physical distance.B.Outdoors with others who are not members of a person’s householdand unable to maintain sustained physical distance. C.As permitted inmy Order Directing Mitigation Measures, dated July 15, 2020, as amended,for participation in an indoor or outdoor event, gathering, or group setting where another person or persons, who are not members of the individual’s householdare present.D.Participating in indoor physical activity in a gym, fitness center or group fitness classes, where another person or persons who are not members of the individual’s householdare present in the same space,irrespective of physical distance.E.Waiting in a public area for, riding on, driving or operating public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle, irrespective of physical distance.F.Obtaining services for themselves or another person or a pet from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank. G.When working in any space where food is prepared, packaged for sale, or prepared for distribution to others.I.Certain facilities—including hospitals, shelters, long-term care facilities, residential treatment facilities, andcorrectional facilities—may also require visitors and residents, patients, or inmates to wear face coverings even when in a living unit.Section 3:Exceptions to Covering RequirementThe following are exceptions to the face covering requirements in Section 2. All alternatives to wearinga face covering, including the use of a face shield,should be exhausted before an individual is exceptedfrom this Order. A.If wearing a face coveringwhile working would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.B.If wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition,or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition or a disability.C.When necessary to confirm the individual’s identity. D.While obtaining a service that requires the temporary removal of the face covering, such as dental services. E.When working aloneand isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interaction.F.If an individual is communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.Section 4.Business and SchoolEntityObligations A.A business or a schoolentitymust:1.Require that all people, including their employees, customers, teachers, students and visitors, wear a face covering and takereasonablestepsto enforce the requirement.2.Mitigate or eliminate employee, teacher, student,visitor, and customer exposure to people who cannot wear or refuse to wear a face covering.3.Post prominent signs that are visible to all people—including employees, teachers, students, customers, and visitors—stating that face coverings are required by the Order of the Secretary of Health.4.Provide reasonable accommodations to people, including their employees, teachers, students,customers,and visitors, who state they have a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the person to maintain a face covering. a.Businesses may decline service to individuals who are not wearing a face coveringor claiming to have a condition preventing them from wearing a face covering or an alternative to a face covering, so long as they attemptto provide a reasonable accommodation. b.Accommodations could include an alternative to a face covering,such as use of a face shield or providing service options that do not require a customer to enter the business.This may include offering curbside pick-up, delivery, or other innovative solutions.C.A business oraschoolentityshould not:1.Enforce face covering requirements when it is unsafe to do so.2.Restrain, assault,use force,or physically remove employees, teachers, students, customers or other individuals who refuse to comply with this Order when it would not otherwise be legal to do so.3.Violate other laws, including state and federal anti-discrimination laws.Section 5.Effect on other Orders of the Secretary of HealthMy Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings, dated July 15, 2020, is hereby rescinded and supersededbythis Order.My Order Directing Mitigation Measures, dated July 15, 2020, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows:Section 3(E): Venues must require attendees to comply with 6-foot physical distancing requirements, to wear masks or face coverings in compliance with myUpdatedOrder of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Universal Face Coverings, dated November17,2020and implement other mitigationpractices such as timed entry, multiple entry and exit points, multiple restrooms and hygiene stations. Venues and event planners can review the CDC Events and Gatherings Readiness and Planning Toolfor additional information regarding mitigationpractices.The remainder of the OrderDirecting Mitigation Measures of July 15, 2020as amended, remains unchanged. Section 6.Effective Date and Enforcement DateThis Order is effectiveonand enforcement will begin on November 18,2020, 12:01 a.m.____________________________Rachel L. Levine, MDSecreta
PA Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 38 