Pennsylvania court throws out governor's school mask mandate

HARRISBURG, Pa. — An order by Pennsylvania's acting health secretary that requires masks inside K-12 schools and child care facilities was thrown out Wednesday by a state court that said she lacked the authority. The Wolf administration said lawyers were directed to file an immediate appeal.

Commonwealth Court sided 4-1 with the ranking Republican in the state Senate and others who sued to challenge the masking order that took effect in early September as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's spokesperson said Health Department lawyers were directed to file an appeal to the state Supreme Court on Wednesday, a move his administration said would effectively put the new decision on hold.

The judges said Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam's mandate did not comply with the state's laws about reviewing and approving regulations and was adopted without an existing disaster emergency declared by the governor.

Read more: https://www.phillytrib.com/news/state_and_region/pennsylvania-court-throws-out-governors-school-mask-mandate/article_6607cdba-9f52-574b-8643-c634e90ff4ac.html