State on the way to ending mask mandates before July 4

May 20—Pennsylvania is on track to have enough adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to lift all masking requirements by the end of June, the state Department of Health confirmed Thursday.

Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam celebrated the state fully vaccinating 50% of all residents 18 and older during an online news conference meant to recognize several large pharmacy and grocery chains for injecting vaccine across the state. A bit more than two weeks ago, Gov. Tom Wolf said he would lift remaining masking requirements when at least 70% of residents are fully vaccinated.

"I just want to offer that Pennsylvania has made great strides towards that, and we've been able to actually have 68.2% of our 18 and older population with one dose in their arm," Beam told reporters. "So in the requisite three- to four-week period, we are likely going to be very close to meeting that 70% goal."

With three weeks between Pfizer vaccine doses and four weeks between Moderna doses, the state has enough people vaccinated with one dose to reach almost 70% fully vaccinated in a month. Someone who receives a Moderna or Pfizer becomes fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose, according to CDC guidelines. For the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it's two weeks after vaccination.

Department of Health spokesman Maggi Barton later confirmed department officials estimate the state could hit the 70% mark by the end of June.

That would put the state far ahead of President Joe Biden's goal of having at least 70% of United States residents with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Independence Day.

Masking requirements remain mostly in more crowded settings, though businesses and venues are allowed to impose their own where the state has lifted requirements.

Lackawanna is the only regional county on track to reach 70% fully vaccinated by the end of June, though that could change if others' vaccination rates rise.

As of Thursday, Lackawanna County had 57% of adults fully vaccinated and 70.2% with at least one dose. In the other local counties, Luzerne, 47.1% fully vaccinated, 59% with one dose; Monroe, 40.3% fully vaccinated, 53.3% with one dose; Pike, 37.5% fully vaccinated, 50.1% with one dose; Susquehanna, 35.4% fully vaccinated, 43% with one dose; Wayne, 46% fully vaccinated, 56.5% with one dose; and Wyoming, 44.1% fully vaccinated, 56.6% with one dose. Overall, the seven county region was at 47.1% fully vaccinated and 59% with at least one dose.

Lackawanna County Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers credited local vaccine providers and the clinic-organizing efforts of Jason Kavulich, the county Area Agency on Aging director. Kavulich kept working on vaccination clinics even after the vaccination of most senior citizens, his normal clients and one of the first groups targeted for vaccines.

"They all came together to work for the same cause," Jeffers said. "I sound excited, but I really am excited at what these guys have done. Kavulich and the pharmacies saved lives."

As a result, Jeffers said, the county will end all telework as of June 1, though visitors to county buildings will still have to wear masks and social distancing within buildings will remain. Only about 10% of county employees still telework, he estimated.

"It's more for people to feel safe than to be safe," he said. "Psychologically, people will feel better if residents coming in wear masks."

The news on COVID-19's spread looked somewhat better again Thursday with long-term trends in new cases and deaths improving.

The Department of Health reported another 1,430 cases Thursday, raising the total to 1,191,532.

The region recorded 80 new cases for a total of 76,804.

The state added 40 deaths, increasing the total to 26,965. Two new deaths in the region pushed the total to 1,838.

By county:

Lackawanna added 11 cases for 18,258 total, including 2,825 probable. One new death raised the total to 471.

Luzerne added 38 cases for 31,483 total, including 2,542 probable, and remained at 807 deaths.

Monroe added eight cases for 14,574 total, including 444 probable, and remained at 312 deaths.

Pike added 13 cases for 3,944 total, including 417 probable, and remained at 54 deaths.

Susquehanna added two cases for 2,580 total, including 324 probable, and remained at 62 deaths.

Wayne added seven cases for 4,053 total, including 420 probable, and remained at 80 deaths.

Wyoming added one case for 1,912 total, including 333 probable. One new death raised the total to 52.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.