A FEMA-run mass COVID-19 vaccination site officially opened today at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City. The site will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. through April 30. It receives its own allocation of the Pfizer vaccine directly from the federal government (separately from the city’s allocation) and has a capacity to vaccinate as many as 6,000 people per day.

The site is operating by appointment only with no walk-ups accepted. Philadelphians from phases 1A and 1B who have completed the city’s COVID-19 Vaccine Interest form are receiving invitations to register for an appointment at the site. (Check out this report by WHYY on how vaccine appointment invitation links sent out by email to eligible individuals were shared with ineligible folks who were also able to register for an appointment. The city has canceled those ineligible appointments and is working on fixing this issue for future appointments).  Continue Reading

Pre-K through second-grade students will begin returning to school buildings for in-person learning on a rolling schedule beginning Monday, March 8, according to an announcement today by the School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

The announcement was made following the conclusion of the mediation process between the District and the PFT, which will allow the union to review the safety plan for each school building.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia public school students in grades preK-2 who had opted for the hybrid learning model were supposed to return back to school buildings on Monday, March 1. However, due to the ongoing dispute between the School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the mediation process by a third party currently underway, virtual instruction for all District students will continue until further announcement.

The City-led third-party mediation process between the School District and PFT on the phased reopening of the city’s public schools is nearing conclusion, according to today’s announcement by Mayor Jim Kenney. Details will be finalized over the next few days, and will be announced publicly at a joint press conference with the City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers on Monday, March 1, at 1 p.m.

The mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the City’s Convention Center, which was previously run by the controversial Philly Fighting COVID organization and then by the City’s Department of Public Health, will soon have a new operator. FEMA will take over the site in early March, according to today’s announcement by Philadelphia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley.

The center is expected to open on March 3rd and to administer several thousand vaccine shots per day. Since FEMA is a federally-run organization it is expected to receive its own allocation of vaccine doses directly from the federal government and not use any from the city’s general allocation, which also comes from the federal government, according to today’s announcement. This will help increase the number of vaccinations administered in the city. Currently, Philadelphia is receiving about 25,000 COVID vaccine doses per week.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (2/18/2021, 7:35 p.m.): The snow emergency has been lifted. It’s now allowed to park vehicles along snow emergency routes.

(2/17/2021): Another storm is approaching the Philadelphia area and is expected to bring up to 6 inches of snow. The City has declared a snow emergency beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. Be sure to move your vehicle to a safe location if it’s been parked on a snow emergency route. The list of snow emergency routes can be found here.

If your car has been towed, call 215-686-SNOW to locate it.  Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia has postponed the reopening date for its schools from Feb. 22 to March 1. The decision to delay the reopening, which is part of the District’s hybrid learning model, was made due to the ongoing third-party mediation requested by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). The organization has instructed teachers earlier this month not to return to school buildings until it is decided by a third party that it is safe to do so.

The District is now planning to begin the first phase of the hybrid learning plan, which includes welcoming students in PreK-2 back to school buildings, on Monday, March 1. Older students will be phased in later. No additional dates have been provided yet.  Continue Reading