Mask mandates? COVID vaccine requirements? The latest on the debate in Pa.

Pa. Pressroom is a regular recap of politics in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. To submit tips and news leads, contact USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania state capital bureau reporter Bruce Siwy at bsiwy@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @BruceSiwy.

Pandemic policy debates continue to pop up in political circles even as health officials say there's little reason for concern about COVID-19.

Last week, First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for the coronavirus, with President Joe Biden appearing in public wearing a mask again as he did at the height of the 2020 outbreak. Her diagnosis came just before U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and other Senate Republicans unsuccessfully proposed legislation to prohibit federal mask mandates in the future.

There's also been pandemic discussion in Pennsylvania's state Capitol, as former gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin) has reintroduced a bill dubbed the Medical Freedom Act, which would bar state agencies and political subdivisions from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations or discriminating against those who refuse those vaccines.

At the Pennsylvania Department of Health, however, no panic buttons are being pushed. Spokesperson Maggie Shuttlesworth said they're simply advising people to practice good hygiene, to keep current with vaccinations and to isolate from others if feeling sick.

"During the summer months, people tend to travel more and participate in seasonal group activities," Shuttlesworth told the USA TODAY Network.

"As fall approaches, there is a return to school and people enjoy more indoor activities which can contribute to slight increases. It is important to recognize that while there is a slight uptick in COVID-related hospitalizations in some areas, the current number of hospitalizations and deaths are far below the levels at this time last year and past summers."

Comprehensive data on COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania is no longer collected by the state, as Department of Health employees are monitoring death and hospitalization rates instead of attempting to track and document each individual case.

Inside the Beltway

A majority of residents in the nation's Capitol already believe former President Donald Trump is guilty in relation to 2020 election subversion.

In survey results released earlier this month, Emerson College Polling found that 68% of Washington, D.C., residents would vote to convict him. Just 8% would find him innocent and 28% are undecided in their pre-trial thoughts.

Democrats — who outnumber Republicans in the city 58% to 28% — find Trump guilty 69% to 5%.

“It appears that those who are more impartial about the trial are less likely to want to serve on the jury,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Those who want to serve find Trump guilty rather than innocent 68% to 9% with 23% unsure, while those who don’t want to serve think Trump is guilty 60% to 6%, with 34% unsure.”

The numbers suggest the 45th president may be facing at least one conviction as he continues to campaign for another term in the White House. He's charged in D.C. with conspiracy and obstruction.

Many of Trump's critics argue that his actions related to the 2021 Capitol riots disqualify him for office under the 14th Amendment, though some legal scholars doubt if this challenge to his candidacy would hold up in court since he wasn't charged with incitement, insurrection or rebellion.

And the horse race

Another incumbent Republican congressman in Pennsylvania is already planning for a 2024 campaign.

U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.) made the announcement last week. He's in the midst of his third term representing District 13.

“In Congress, I’ll continue to focus my work on the issues that matter most to our district: improving access to quality, affordable healthcare; bringing reliable high-speed internet to all communities; and lowering energy prices for Pennsylvania families," Joyce said in a press release.

“Weak border security, rising crime, skyrocketing inflation, and higher costs from the grocery store to the gas pump are the direct result of Joe Biden’s failed leadership. To address these challenges, we must return principled Republican leadership to Congress and the White House."

Joyce was uncontested in his run last year, and won both of his previous races in this deeply conservative district by more than 40 percentage points.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Does PA have a school mask mandate? COVID-19 requirements?