Due to the rapid increase in cases in Philadelphia, the City Health Department is strongly recommending that you mask-up while indoors, unless you are vaccinated AND know that everyone around you is also vaccinated. People who are not yet fully vaccinated should consider double masking while indoors and around others.

The COVID Delta variant that is causing more and more COVID cases is about 1,000 times more infectious than other COVID variants that we’ve seen in the Philadelphia area. That means that it can infect more people, more easily.

While masking is important, the best way to protect yourself, your family, your coworkers, and your community is to be fully vaccinated. We strongly encourage everyone that is not yet fully vaccinated to get both of their doses as soon as they are eligible. You can find the hundreds of locations that are administering the vaccines in Philadelphia, all for free, and often without an appointment needed, at phila.gov/vaccine.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) has clarified how current mask recommendations apply to construction work.

  • For vaccinated individuals, mask-wearing is strongly recommended for indoor construction work. The Health Department has not recommended that vaccinated people wear masks outdoors.
  • For unvaccinated individuals, mask-wearing is strongly recommended for indoor construction work and double-masking is encouraged. Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to wear masks even when working outdoors.

In certain indoor settings, masks continue to be required for all individuals, including those who have been vaccinated. This means that when performing construction activities in these settings, both vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks. The settings include:

  • Health care institutions, including temporary community healthcare events such as vaccine clinics and blood drives
  • Congregate facilities such as prisons, shelters, and adult day programs
  • Indoor schools, camps, and early childhood education facilities

Mask wearing is also required on public transportation including planes, trains, buses, taxis, and rideshare vehicles.

 

Find a COVID-19 vaccine near where you live or work.
Being fully vaccinated protects you from COVID and the Delta variant and from spreading the virus to others, including children too young to be vaccinated.