Governor Tom Wolf pleads for everyone to wear a mask amid “fall resurgence” of COVID-19

Governor Tom Wolf pleads for everyone to wear a mask amid “fall resurgence” of COVID-19

By Tyler Pratt

October 20, 2020

Governor Tom Wolf is warning the fall resurgence of the virus is here. As WLVR’s Tyler Pratt reports, new coronavirus cases appear to be soaring in the state.

Governor Wolf is begging residents to wear a mask and help fight the spread of COVID-19. 

“While we always have to take this deadly virus seriously, now is really the time to double down on our efforts to keep ourselves and the people around us safe. This is a plea to do just that to keep us safe.”

Wolf credits the statewide shutdown this spring, along with ramped up testing and contact tracing, for keeping virus numbers lower over the summer. But case counts have been going up this fall. The past week has included some of the highest, single-day infection rates since the onset of the pandemic.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine is pointing to schools reopening, restaurants and bars not following social distancing guidelines, and parties –  not just the large ones – for the rise. 

“And it’s also relatively small gatherings among friends and family, and if people do not take precautions, the virus doesn’t care if it’s a family member or a friend. If someone is positive and doesn’t have any symptoms, the virus will spread.”

Levine says everyone’s actions matter right now to stop the spread. She’s previously said officials are not currently planning another statewide shutdown. 

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