UPDATE: West Philadelphia High School and 62 other public schools will be closed tomorrow (Friday, March 13) due to staffing shortage after Governor Wolf’s announcement earlier today regarding measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Montgomery County. Eleven percent of Philadelphia School District employees live in Montgomery County.

On Thursday, the School District of Philadelphia announced a plan that should help keep its students and staff safer as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health matter evolves. Beginning Friday, March 13, activities where large groups are gathered will be limited, including athletic contests, plays, concerts, as well as work-related travel for staff and school-sponsored trips through spring break.

Athletic practices will be permitted, but games will be postponed until further notice. All school-sponsored trips and work-related travel is postponed at this time unless approved by the superintendent.  Continue Reading

Penn has extended its spring break for a week for all students and is preparing to switch to virtual instruction for the remainder of the spring semester beginning Monday, March 23 due to the coronavirus-related health concerns, according to a message from the administration sent Wednesday to university students, faculty and employees.

Students who are currently out of town are asked to not to return to campus. Students who are on campus are asked to depart effective Sunday, March 15, according to the announcement. University staff will be assisting departing students. Students in health-related schools and programs, who have already had their Spring Break, will continue their clinical rotations.

For more information and details, read the full message here.

UPDATE (3/11/2020): The 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for this Sunday, March 15, has been canceled.

(3/10/2020): Mayor Jim Kenney and city health officials have announced the first confirmed new coronavirus (COVID-19) case in Philadelphia and advised city residents to avoid large events.

City officials didn’t disclose any personal details about the infected person, but said it’s an adult who had been exposed to a previously confirmed case of the virus. This person has been quarantined at home, according to the announcement. Several coronavirus cases were reported in city suburbs, including Montgomery County, over the weekend, and multiple cases in Pennsylvania.

Despite the coronavirus spreading, city officials said that they’re not canceling large events in Philadelphia, including this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but urged residents to avoid large public gatherings with more than 5,000 people.  Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia has sent out a message to parents and guardians about the coronavirus.

So far, there are no confirmed coronavirus disease cases in Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia residents are at low risk of becoming infected, according to the message. The School District is working closely with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and taking into consideration the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The School District of Philadelphia holds the well-being, health, and safety of students and staff as a top priority,” reads the message.  Continue Reading

Mercy Hospital in West Philadelphia, which has provided in-patient services to residents for more than 100 years, may terminate these services by mid-August, according to reports. The officials of the hospital, located at 54th and Cedar and operated by Trinity Health, have notified city health officials about their plans, WHYY reports.

“Hospital officials assured City health officials that if these services are terminated, the process will take months and be conducted responsibly,” Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said in a statement.  Continue Reading

The inside of an Ilera Healthcare dispensary, which company officials told the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee will be very similar to one proposed for 4237 Walnut Street (from Ilera’s website).

The Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee encouraged officials from a medical marijuana dispensary to formally apply for zoning for a location near 43rd and Walnut after an informational meeting this week.

Ilera Healthcare wants to open the dispensary at 4237 Walnut St., a property that has housed health-related businesses for several years. It would be the first medical marijuana dispensary in West Philly and the company’s second in the region.  Continue Reading