Flyers, Sixers fans no longer need to wear masks at Wells Fargo Center

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You can leave your masks behind if you're headed to an event at the Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia will drop its indoor mask mandate starting Wednesday, the city announced, and with that, Sixers and Flyers fans attending events at the Wells Fargo Center no longer will be required to wear masks.

“This is a day we’ve been waiting nearly two years for, and finally, our fans can watch the Flyers, 76ers, concerts, and more just like they used to at Wells Fargo Center,” said Valerie Camillo, President of Business Operations for Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Flyers said in a statement. “Starting tonight, the full roar of Broad Street is officially back, and we’re more than ready to welcome our fans back to the best environment in all of sports and entertainment.”

Despite Philadelphia now being in the “all clear” phase, masks will still be required in health care institutions, congregate settings and on public transportation. Additionally, the city emphasized that businesses and other institutions can impose more stringent protocols, meaning other businesses may require proof of vaccination or that everyone wear a mask.

The city made the announcement against the backdrop of other municipalities dropping their own mandates. Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the same day changed the metrics it uses to determine whether to recommend indoor face coverings.

City buildings will require masks until Monday, March 7, the city announced, though masks will be optional for visitors and fully vaccinated staff after that date. Unvaccinated staff are still required to wear two masks while indoors and around others.

City health commissioner Cheryl Bettigole, though, has emphasized previously that more stringent pandemic restrictions could return in the future if – as happened nationwide last year – infections and hospitalizations rise dramatically yet again. On Wednesday, the health department echoed that sentiment in its press release announcing the dropping of masks.

"If a new COVID variant were to come to Philadelphia or cases started to rise again, we may need to move to the Mask Precautions Level or higher and start enforcing the public mandates again," the department said.

Bettigole previously noted that Philadelphia's more stringent mask requirements have contributed to fewer infections compared to surrounding counties, despite those counties being more affluent and less diverse.

For more on the lifting of Philadelphia's mask mandate, visit NBC10.com.

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