PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia continues to see a rapid rise of new cases of COVID-19, and officials say they may have to consider new restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
“These are the highest numbers we’ve seen since early to mid-May,” said Health Commissioner Tom Farley, who added the city is averaging 375 new cases a day, up from about 300 last week and about 200 the week before.
And the positivity rate from testing is close to 9%.
“I think what’s happened here is, with the change in the weather, the air is different, the virus is just more easy to spread and activities where the virus wasn’t spreading in the past are higher risk, so we’re going to have to change our behavior to match that,” he said.
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Farley said the city is not weighing any specific options but urged individuals to take steps to protect themselves by avoiding contact with people outside of their household, assuming everyone you come into contact with could have the virus, wearing a mask and staying 6 feet from others.
The city is still encouraging outdoor dining to support restaurants through these times, and streets will be closed in a dozen restaurant districts.
Street closures:
East Passyunk Avenue: S. 12th – Morris Street to E. Passyunk Ave., 1600 E. Passyunk Ave. (Saturday 11 a.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Midtown Village: S. 13th – Chestnut to Sansom Streets, S. 13th – Sansom to Walnut Streets, S. 13th – Walnut to Locust Streets, Sansom – S. Juniper to S. 12th, Sansom – S. 12th to S. 13th, Drury Street – S. Juniper to 13th, S. Juniper – Chestnut to Sansom Streets (Wednesday 2 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.; S. Juniper – Chestnut to Sansom Streets ONLY Monday 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.)
South 9th Street: Federal to Ellsworth streets – Ellsworth to Washington Ave. (Friday 4 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
S. Camac Street: Manning to Locust Streets (Tuesday 2 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.); St. James to Locust Streets (Tuesday 2 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.); Spruce to Cypress Streets (Tuesday 3 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Old City: S. 2nd Street – Market to Chestnut Streets (Wednesday 1 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Reading Terminal Market: Filbert Street – 11th to 12th Streets (Thursday 9 a.m. through Wednesday 11:59 p.m.)
South Street Headhouse District: 400 Block of S. 2nd Street – Pine to Lombard Streets (Daily 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.); South Street – 2nd to Hancock Streets (Sunday only 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.); South Street – S. 4th to S. 5th Streets (Thursday 3 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.); E. Passyunk Ave. – South to Bainbridge Streets (Thursday 3 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.); S. Leithgow – South to Bainbridge Streets (Thursday 3 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Rittenhouse: S. 18th – Locust to Walnut Streets, S. 18th – Walnut to Sansom Streets, Sansom – S. 15th to S. 16th Streets (Wednesday 4 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Manayunk: Conarroe Street – Main to Cresson Streets (Daily 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.)
University City: 3400 Block of Sansom Street (Thursday 11 a.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Port Richmond: E. Clementine Street – Gaul to Miller Streets (Friday 11 a.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)
Germantown: Maplewood Mall (Friday 3 p.m. through Sunday 11:59 p.m.)