Philadelphia bans indoor gatherings, broadens virus restrictions due to recent COVID-19 spike

PHILADELPHIA — The city of Philadelphia is imposing new COVID-19 restrictions as the country is seeing a rapid surge of new cases.

Philadelphia is banning indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gatherings of any size, public or private.

Mayor Jim Kenney said the “safer at home” restrictions will take into effect starting Nov. 20 and last until the end of the year -- and a large amount of businesses will be forced to close.

The city also plans to shutter gyms, museums and libraries, prohibit in-person instruction at colleges and high schools, and reduce occupancy at stores and religious institutions, the health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley, said at a news conference Monday.

For a full list of what is and is not allowed to remain open in Philadelphia, CLICK HERE.

The Philadelphia school district had planned to start returning K-12 students to the classroom, but said last week that schools will remain virtual for the foreseeable future in light of the explosion in cases.

City officials said dramatic action is needed to respond to an exponential growth in cases and hospitalizations.

Pennsylvania has shattered daily case records recently. The state is reporting an average of 4,900 new infections per day, up nearly 120% in two weeks, according to AP analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project. The daily death toll has nearly doubled in that period, to about 42 per day, though it remains far below what it was last spring. Hospitalizations and the percentage of virus tests are also up sharply.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has imposed a statewide mask mandate, occupancy restrictions at bars and restaurants and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, but has not moved to reimpose broader restrictions seen earlier in the pandemic.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced they will not allow fans to attend games until further notice due to the city’s new restrictions as well.

In a team statement on social media, the Eagles said these outdoor gathering limits prevent the thousands of fans from coming to Lincoln Financial Field for the rest of the season.

NOTE: Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Cox Media Group