On April 11, 2022, citing the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced that it has moved into the “Mask Precautions” pandemic response level and will reinstate the City’s indoor mask mandate for most indoor spaces.  Masks will be required beginning Monday, April 18, after a one-week education period.  While masks will be required in indoor public places, there is no vaccine requirement for places that serve food or drink.  The City stopped enforcing the indoor mask mandate for businesses and institutions on March 2, 2022.  While the School District of Philadelphia did not reinstate its mask mandate, it will require all students and staff to wear masks the week of April 18 – 22.  Philadelphia is the first major city in the United States to bring back masking requirements after many states and cities dropped masking requirements in February and March.