Philadelphia will lift COVID restrictions on June 11, according to today’s announcement by city officials, except for a mask mandate.

Some restrictions will be lifted or eased next week. Beginning Friday, May 21, there will be no density limits for retail stores, offices, libraries and museums. Philadelphia is also lifting restrictions on outdoor pools. Also, people will be able to purchase and consume alcohol without having to purchase food. Continue Reading

CVS has joined other pharmacies in Philadelphia to provide COVID vaccinations to residents. Many CVS locations in the city, including a few stores in West Philly, have vaccine appointments available. To schedule an appointment, go here. You can also try to walk in. The following West Philly locations have COVID vaccines: 4849 Market St., 3925 Walnut St., 3401 Walnut St.

In other Philadelphia COVID vaccine news, the FEMA-run vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center has about 4,000 Pfizer vaccine doses that are set to expire this Thursday. Philadelphia residents age 16 and older or those who work in the city are welcome to stop by today or tomorrow by 4 p.m. to get their first dose of the vaccine. No appointment is required. Continue Reading

Starting today, the city’s Department of Public Health began posting links on their website where residents can schedule a COVID vaccine appointment without an invitation at the FEMA-run mass vaccination clinics in Center City and North Philadelphia and at city-run neighborhood vaccination clinics, including the clinic located at the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia.

To make a vaccine appointment, go here.

As was reported last week, FEMA-run mass vaccination clinics also began accepting walk-ups in addition to those people who had been invited to schedule an appointment after filling out the COVID Vaccine Interest form online or by calling 311. These options are also still available.

The City of Philadelphia has recently expanded COVID vaccine eligibility to all residents over the age of 16, so anyone within this age group can now sign up for an appointment or just walk in.

The city has expanded COVID vaccine eligibility to all adults (age 16 and older) today, which is three days earlier than the previously announced date (April 19). Public Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley made the announcement this afternoon and the new eligibility is effective immediately.

Multiple vaccination sites around the city have reported appointment vacancies, according to Farley. People over the age of 65 are still strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as one of the most vulnerable groups. Continue Reading

Philadelphia has extended its agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue the operation of the mass COVID vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch St.) until May 25. The clinic has again begun administering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week after completing the administration of second doses over the past three weeks to those who received their first doses last month.

On Wednesday, the FEMA-run Center City clinic began accepting walk-ups.

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The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has paused distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following the recommendations by the CDC and US Food and Drug Administration after reports of rare blood clotting disorder in six recipients of the shot.

Starting today, the FEMA-run Center City vaccination clinic has again started administering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the previously planned J & J vaccinations. This clinic will continue with the Pfizer vaccine for the foreseeable future and will maintain the current 6,000 appointments and walk-ups per day, according to an announcement by the Health Department. UPDATE: The site will continue operating until May 26. Continue Reading