PHOTO: OFFICE OF GOV. TOM WOLF

The Memorial Day holiday will be extra special in Pennsylvania this year. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that’s when all of the COVID mitigation orders will be lifted in Pennsylvania, with the exception of the mask mandate. Wolf says the current mask requirements will stay in place until 70% of the Pennsylvanians 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

As of Tuesday morning, 32% of Pennsylvania adults were fully vaccinated and slightly more than 50% had received their first shots.

“We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,” ​Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam said. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to take the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated, follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and social distancing.”

The lifting of statewide restrictions will not prevent municipalities and school districts from ​continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts if necessary. Requirements such as testing and reporting ​new cases will remain in place for hospitals and long-term care facilities.