The city will announce ‘adjustments’ to COVID-19 mitigation measures on Wednesday
The hospital industry hopes that COVID-19 mandates will change with declining COVID cases
COVID-19 restrictions are being eased in various cities and states across the country. Many are wondering if dropping COVID-19 cases will bring about a change in Philadelphia. FOX 29’s Jennifer Joyce has the details.
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia officials will announce changes to COVID-19 mitigation during their weekly coronavirus response briefing on Wednesday, according to Mayor Jim Kenney.
The changes would come as health officials and Mayor Jim Kenney say the number of cases and positivity rates continue to fall in Philadelphia.
At the peak of the omicron rise, around January 3, Philadelphia reported 38% positivity rates and approximately 2,600 daily cases.
On Monday, the city reported a positivity of less than 3% and about 200 daily cases in recent weeks.
“There will be some adjustments tomorrow,” Kenney said Tuesday morning after attending a groundbreaking for a local playground.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Tuesday that masks have helped keep people safe during the pandemic.
When asked if it was time for the city’s mask mandates to end, Kenney credited it was wearing masks that played an important role in the decline in the number of cases.
“It only happened because of this discipline,” Kenney said, pointing to his 76ers-themed face mask.
Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, told FOX on Monday that he expected Philadelphia officials to make a statement Wednesday about measurements they will use to determine appropriate mandates forward.
On Tuesday, Kenney revealed that the city would announce some ‘numbers and data points’ with reference to possibly easing some restrictions on Wednesday.
That Philadelphia Inquirer Monday night reported that the city could end its vaccine requirement to eat indoors already this week, and the mandate for indoor mask may be lifted shortly after.
Several states across the country have announced an end to universal mask mandates over the past several weeks, including nearby Delaware. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy put one down deadline for masking in primary schools.
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