Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said Friday that although the department still recommends people exercise COVID-19 safety procedures, such as getting vaccinated and wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, the state could shift its methodology with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Klinepeter hosted a conference Friday afternoon during which she highlighted preparations being made to continue protecting public health as the state transitions toward an endemic stage of COVID-19.

"We are prepared to move beyond the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic,“ Klinepeter said. ”In addition to continued vaccinations, we know that the key to our transition​ will be a strong public health infrastructure that can support our needs as we move to the next phase of our response and recovery.”

The conference took place before the CDC announced that it was still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high.

The CDC also said guidelines for other indoor spaces aren’t binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules.

The agency said people with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive shouldn’t stop wearing masks.

However, Klinepeter concurred with CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who said in a news briefing that “anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask,” and that the primary concern is making sure hospitals are not overburdened and people are not coming in with severe disease.

In the Pennsylvania conference, Klinepeter reiterated some efforts lawmakers made in responding to the pandemic throughout the past two years.

Klinepeter also said the department of health would receive guidance from the CDC next week, which will bring more updates.

The health department still recommends individuals keep up with their vaccines because they have proven effective in preventing serious symptoms of COVID-19.

“Moving forward does not mean ignoring COVID-19,” Klinepeter said. “We have the knowledge and tools needed to make smart decisions guided by public health research to keep ourselves and our communities safer. Our strategy includes a continued focus on prevention while being nimble enough to quickly respond to any changes in the COVID-19 landscape.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.