PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The city's health commissioner announced on Tuesday that Philadelphia will not move into the full "green" phase of Pennsylvania's recovery and reopening strategy on Friday.
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said that, because the city will not meet the targets set by leaders — and because of the rise in coronavirus cases seen from social events, restaurants and bars in locations that have reopened more quickly — Philadelphia is scaling back its planned July 3 reopening.
Farley said the health department will re-evaluate weekly what may open and what must stay closed, but it is expected that gyms and restaurant indoor dining will stay closed until at least Aug. 1.
For now, the city is approaching the "green" phase with modifications. As outlined by a statement released on Tuesday, that restricted green phase includes the following:
—Indoor dining will not be allowed to resume on Friday. Delivery, take-out and outdoor options continue to be allowed.
—Gyms and indoor fitness centers will stay closed.
—Other activities — includes museums and libraries, indoor shopping malls, and small indoor and outdoor gatherings — which entail less risk, because mask wearing can be better enforced, will be allowed on Friday.
—Casinos will be allowed to open, with very strict requirements: Masks are required, six feet of distance must be maintained between patrons, no food drink may be served indoors.
The Department of Public Health announced 142 new cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia and five additional deaths from the virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 26,133 and the total number of fatalities to 1,584.
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