Patton Township Rescinds Local COVID-19 Regulations

Patton Township supervisors voted unanimously on Wednesday to rescind enforcement of the remaining regulations in the township’s temporary COVID-19 ordinance.

The township had previously updated the ordinance to align with Pennsylvania Department of Health guidance on masking, which now no longer requires face coverings for fully vaccinated people in most circumstances and which DOH announced on Thursday would be lifted entirely by June 28.

Provisions of the township ordinance which will no longer be enforced through its expiration on July 31 include residential gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors and gathering limits on municipal property of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

The supervisors’ vote was to direct Patton Township police to suspend enforcement until the ordinance expires. The ordinance was not rescinded entirely because it would require a lengthier process of establishing another ordinance to end it.

Pennsylvania will lift most of its COVID-19 mitigation measures, except the masking order, on Monday.

According to DOH and CDC guidance, masks are still required, regardless of vaccination status, in doctors’ offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters and prisons and on airplanes, buses and other public transportation.

Here’s where other local COVID-19 ordinances in the Centre Region stand

• State College’s ordinance was updated on Friday to follow the state and federal guidelines for masking. Borough council also voted to increase the limit on outdoor gatherings at residential properties from 25 to 100 people and indoor gatherings from 25 to 50. Outdoor gatherings on municipal property increase from 50 to 100 people.
• College Township’s ordinance will be rescinded effective Monday.
• Ferguson Township supervisors will hold a public hearing and are expected to vote on June 7 to amend the ordinance to follow DOH and CDC guidance on masking and to increase limits on outdoor gatherings from 50 to 100 people.
• Halfmoon and Harris townships do not have local COVID-19 ordinances and simply follow statewide mitigation orders.