Philadelphia lifts COVID mask mandate days after reinstating it

Philadelphia has ended its indoor COVID-19 mask mandate, just days after reinstating it amid a reported increase in case numbers.

The decision to end the requirement was made Thursday night by a vote from the city's Board of Health, citing "decreasing hospitalizations and a leveling of case counts," according to the Associated Press.

The mandate went into effect Monday, after Philadelphia ended it March 2.

Acting city health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigol told the board at a public meeting Thursday night that hospitalizations had unexpectedly gone down 25% in a matter of days, the wire service also reports.

The health department did not release data along with the vote but said it would be provide Friday.