Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaks during a 9/11 commemoration at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2021. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The governor of Pennsylvania said he will devolve power to local leaders regarding the issue of face mask mandates.
In a press release on Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced he intends to let K-12 school officials decide how to enforce mask wearing. Wolf stressed the move aims to transition the state back to normalcy.
The Democrat governor imposed a strict statewide mask mandate in September, sparking fierce backlash and lawsuits from many Pennsylvania parents. Wolf claimed he would likely announce the order on Jan. 17.
“Now, we are in a different place than we were in September, and it is time to prepare for a transition back to a more normal setting. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 virus is now a part of our daily lives, but with the knowledge we’ve gained over the past 20 months and critical tools like the vaccine at our disposal, we must take the next step forward in our recovery,” explained Wolf in a statement released by his office.
Meanwhile, at least two lawsuits are pending against the Wolf administration, which claim it had no legal right to impose the mask mandates. The ruling is still pending.
JUST IN:
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announces the state "anticipates" lifting its K-12 school mask mandate on January 17, 2022.#phled pic.twitter.com/GIoELcUlmp
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) November 8, 2021
Source: One America News Network
