Pennsylvania school districts will be allowed to modify or end the mask mandate for K-12 students in January, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday, saying it is “time to prepare for a transition back to a more normal setting.”

The Democratic governor said that, on Jan. 17, he expects to turn over decisions about masking to local school officials, although the acting health secretary's current mask mandate for students will remain in place for early learning programs and child care facilities, according to the Associated Press.

COVID cases in children 5-18 3 times higher this year

A Monday news update from the state Department of Health said the number of COVID-19 cases among children between 5 and 18 years old is nearly three times greater this year than in 2020. Between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2, 2020, there were a total of 1,683 COVID-19 cases in school-aged children, compared to 4,918 cases in the same age group during the same week this year.

Butler Health System is now offering Pfizer vaccinations to children ages 5 to 11 at scheduled special clinic dates at Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital. The vaccine was recently approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be distributed to children in this age range.

Those in that age range who are vaccinated receive a lower dose than adults or children ages 12 and above. Similar to the process for adults, vaccination involves two shots, 21 days apart, according to a news release from Butler Health System.

BHS continues to encourage everyone eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, as well as boosters, if appropriate.

Appointments for children ages 5 to 11 can be scheduled at Butler Memorial Hospital by visiting butlerhealthsystem.org.

Inmates offered COVID vaccine boosters

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections began offering COVID-19 boosters to staff and the incarcerated population at its facilities Monday.

A news release from the DOC said more than 90% of the incarcerated population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, and those who receive a booster now will be given a $25 incentive in their commissary account from the Inmate General Welfare Fund, which is not taxpayer-funded.

“The DOC's exemplary inmate vaccination rate has contributed to the low rate of COVID-19 infection and resulting serious illness, hospitalization or death from the virus,” DOC acting secretary George Little said. “By providing and incentivizing the vaccine booster, we will further protect the health of the incarcerated population, staff and the community.”

Vaccination and the newly available booster remain voluntary to incarcerated individuals. They are considered “vaccinated” in the DOC system after receiving the initial Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, the news release said.