Lack of emergency order or regulation doomed mask mandate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The state Supreme Court on Thursday released its rationale for why it ruled that Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration had no legal authority to require masks in Pennsylvania’s schools and child care centers, even amid a pandemic and surging cases of COVID-19.

The Democratic-majority court ruled 6-0 on Dec. 10, immediately ending the statewide mask mandate, except in school districts that still required them. Justice Thomas Saylor did not participate in the decision.

The justices’ 58-page opinion released Thursday does not discuss whether school districts have the legal authority to require masks.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pennsylvania-legislature-tom-wolf-4fa6043b0753f2639389bf0f6a8cb8e9