The city is lifting some more coronavirus restrictions imposed on businesses on Nov. 20 due to a spike in new cases. Starting this Saturday, Jan. 16, limited indoor dining at restaurants is allowed to resume. Restaurants can reopen at 25 percent capacity and are allowed to seat only up to four people from the same household at one table. Indoor catering events and entertainment are still not allowed.

“Everyone must wear a mask at all times, especially when they are sitting and eating,” Philadelphia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said on Tuesday when announcing loosening of indoor dining restrictions. Here’s what this means:  Continue Reading

As of January 11th, 50,532 people in Philadelphia have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine and over 9,000 people have received the second, final dose. While the city is still prioritizing health care workers and residents and staff at nursing homes, who were outlined in the Phase 1A for vaccine distribution, the Department of Public Health has announced the next group who will begin receiving vaccinations soon.

Phase 1B includes people ages 75 and older and those with certain high-risk medical conditions; first responders; correctional officers and other workers in congregate care settings not included in Phase 1A; food and critical goods handlers and manufacturers; grocery store workers; childcare and education providers; public transit workers.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia officials have lifted some COVID-19 restrictions re-imposed on local businesses and activities in November due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the city. The following types of businesses and activities can now resume operations (with COVID safety protocols), according to Mayor Jim Kenney’s announcement on Tuesday:

• Museums
• Gyms
• Casinos
• Outdoor sports
• Outdoor catered events
• In-person learning for high schools  Continue Reading

Philadelphia has received its first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines and is expected to begin vaccinations this morning at multiple hospitals across the city, according to Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. Some 13,600 doses will be administered this week and health care workers are first in line to get vaccinated.

The City has outlined a plan of how vaccine doses will be administered, as more Pfizer and Moderna vaccine shipments are expected in the coming weeks and months. The following six tiers of vaccine distribution have been outlined:

1. Health care workers routinely exposed to COVID-19 patients
2. Residents and staff at nursing homes
3. “Critical infrastructure workers” who are routinely exposed to COVID-19 while on the job, such as police officers, firefighters, SEPTA drivers, and sanitation workers.
4. Residents and workers in other congregant settings
5. People with underlying medical conditions
6. The rest of the general public

Continue Reading

The SEPTA Trolley Tunnel that connects West Philadelphia with Center City will be closed every night from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m., beginning Sunday, Dec. 13 until further notice, SEPTA has announced. During the closure hours, SEPTA crews will be working on COVID-19 maintenance, which includes deep cleaning of the stations.

During the overnight tunnel closure, Route 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 trolleys will be on diversion to 40th and Market streets where riders can transfer for free to or from Market-Frankford Line trains or the overnight MFL Owl buses at the 40th Street Station for travel to/from Center City.

Trolleys will continue to operate on their regular route throughout West and Southwest Philadelphia.

City Council members Jamie Gauthier, Isaiah Thomas, and Katherine Gilmore Richardson are hosting a 3rd District virtual town hall this Thursday, Dec. 3 as part of the COVID-19 Community Outreach series. Councilmembers Thomas and Richardson are also co-chairs of the Disadvantaged Communities Task Force.

Community members are invited to participate in an open dialogue about the City’s COVID-19 response. The City Council wants to hear what you have been struggling with during the pandemic, with a goal to provide support to their communities in the best way possible.

The virtual town hall, which will be moderated by Gauthier, will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom. For more details and information on how you can join it, please RSVP by sending an email to: DCT@phila.gov.