At the pandemic’s presumed height in April, Pennsylvania was easily seeing 1,200 or more new cases a day, and as many as 2,000. But at its lowest, in mid-June, it was only in the 300s.

Today, as early-reopening states such as Texas and Florida are recording as many as 8,000 to 10,000 cases daily, Pa. is remaining in the 600s. That may change, however, with a bump up to 840 recorded July 1.

Painful reclosings are becoming necessary in the country’s hotspots, and hoping to avoid fresh outbreaks, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order July 1 making wearing masks when outside the home mandatory.

Governor Tom Wolf advises all Pennsylvanians that, “This virus is not gone and mask-wearing is a required mitigation effort that we know works to stop its spread. We have seen evidence that indicates Pennsylvania’s recent case increases can be traced to settings where people were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing. This can lead to more and more cases in our state. We have made such tremendous progress; let’s not let that progress go to waste, risking lives and livelihoods.

“We all must do one simple thing to stop the spread of COVID-19: Wear a mask, Pennsylvania.”

The Secretary of Heath’s order includes that masks must be worn when:

• Outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet from individuals who are not members of their household;

• In any indoor location where members of the public are generally permitted;

• Waiting for, riding on, driving, or operating public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle;

• Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank; or

• Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when interacting in-person with any member of the public, working in any space visited by members of the public, working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others, working in or walking through common areas, or in any room or enclosed area where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or residence, are present when unable to physically distance.

The order includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement.

As of Monday, the state has 87,705 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6,754 deaths. Lehigh County has 3,890 confirmed and 253 deaths; Northampton County has 3,175 confirmed and 236 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 1,076 confirmed and 78 deaths.