Pennsylvania officials tell residents to wear masks in their homes when guests are over

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is telling residents in the state to wear face coverings inside their homes when guests are over, part of expanded tactics by officials to bolster the state’s COVID-19 orders.

The “new mitigation efforts” are aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus between people of different households, the Pennsylvania Department of Health wrote Tuesday on Twitter.

The agency stated that “masks now required anytime you’re with people outside of your household, even if you’re socially distant. Applies to all indoor facilities + if you have people in your home not part of your household.”

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine included the new provisions in an updated mask order on Tuesday.

Today @SecretaryLevine announced targeted efforts to control the spread of #COVID19 in Pennsylvania, including:
▪️ Issuing memo to acute care hospital CEOs/CMOs outlining opportunity to work collaboratively + expectations if they don’t to ensure health systems can provide care pic.twitter.com/N4yzrkylIt

— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) November 17, 2020

Among the other new restrictions is a travel order requiring visitors to Pennsylvania to test negative for the coronavirus 72 hours before arriving, recommendations for colleges and universities, anda memo to hospital CEOs outlining opportunities to work collaboratively.

In the state’s announcement, it specified that travelers must quarantine for 14 days if they are unable to or choose not to receive a coronavirus test. The rule applies to Pennsylvanians who are returning home after traveling out of state, though it is not required for those who commute to and from the state for work or for medical treatment.

“We must remain united in stopping COVID-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay apart and download the COVID Alert PA app. If you test positive, please answer the call of the case reviewer and provide information that can help protect others. It’s the selfless, right thing to do,” Levine said.

The Keystone State has reported more than 275,000 cases so far, with numbers skyrocketing in the past few months. On Wednesday, the state reported 5,900 cases, the most it has confirmed in a single day.