HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) issued the following statement today in reaction to Philadelphia becoming the first major city in the U.S. to reinstate an indoor mask mandate:
“At a time when Philadelphia businesses are already struggling due to the Krasner crime surge, the state and local economies cannot afford new restrictions from an unelected bureaucrat that will drive people away from the city. Unilateral and onerous government mandates did not help Pennsylvania during the first two years of the pandemic, and they will do even more damage now.
“Evidence shows that mask mandates have little to no benefit to public health. They make even less sense when vaccination rates remain high, home testing is widely available, and treatment options for patients are plentiful throughout Pennsylvania. Now is the time to focus on recovery and getting people back to work – not imposing highly questionable new restrictions that are not supported by science or data.
“This decision not only runs contrary to available evidence and common sense, but also defies the most recent guidance from the CDC, which says indoor masking is no longer needed. All signs point to this decision being driven by power and control, not by necessity.
“Philadelphia City Councilmembers raised similar concerns, but it appears their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. I am calling on Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole to immediately reverse this ill-conceived decision to prevent the negative consequences this mandate will have on the city and the state.”
CONTACT: Jason Thompson