New Estimates For When PA Mask Mandate Will End

PENNSYLVANIA — The most noticeable and perhaps the most controversial symbol of the pandemic, the universal mask mandate, could be coming to an end in Pennsylvania in a matter of weeks.

Gov. Wolf announced this week that the all COVID-19 mitigation orders except for the mask mandate would be lifted on Memorial Day. The mask mandate will continue, he said, until 70 percent of the state's adult, over 18 population has been fully vaccinated.

And that could be somewhat soon, the Department of Health said in a statement to Patch Wednesday.

"Based on current vaccination rates, we estimate Pennsylvania could reach that goal by the end of June," said Maggi Barton, the deputy press secretary for that department.

RELATED: PA To Lift All COVID Mitigation Orders On Memorial Day: Gov. Wolf

Currently, just over 50 percent of the state has received at least their first dose, while 33.65 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

For months now, the main issue surrounding the vaccine was a lack of supply. Counties and states vied for increased shipments, eager to get through lengthy wait lines of hundreds of thousands of residents, particularly those most vulnerable to the disease.

But now, things have changed. Wait lines are mostly gone. As the initial rush of enthusiastic residents to get vaccinated died down, the state has turned their attention away from the issue of supply, and toward the issue of vaccine hesitancy. Many vaccine providers are now offering walk-up appointments with no pre-registration necessary, and outreach efforts are underway to communities around the state that may be hesitant.

The 70 percent vaccinated mark is a number that is close to what experts say will bring a population "herd immunity" from the virus, which is reached when 70 to 80 percent of a population is either infected and has antibodies or has been vaccinated.

Adding to the vaccinated number is the roughly one million Pennsylvanians that have been infected and have antibodies.

However, it's important to note that the 70 percent vaccinated mark applies only to adults; even once that number is reached, there will be unvaccinated children who could be carriers of the virus, health experts say.