PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today announced 175 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 22,150.

The Department of Public Health noted continued progress in congregate settings, including nursing homes and the Department of Prisons. No additional incarcerated individuals have tested positive. The current total of positive cases at correctional facilities is two. Current and cumulative totals of positive cases in Philadelphia prisons are now posted on the testing and data page of the City’s COVID-19 website.

The Department of Public Health confirmed 10 additional fatalities in Philadelphia. This brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 1,258. Of the 1,258 total deaths, 666 (53%) were long-term care facility residents.

The Department of Public Health reports 485 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 994 people hospitalized in the region (including Philadelphia).

Outdoor Seating: Mayor Kenney today cautioned restaurant owners and operators not to launch outdoor dining options until the City has developed protocols for expanding outdoor seating. “Outdoor dining, done properly in the midst of a pandemic, is extremely complicated,” said the Mayor. “It obviously needs to adhere to social distancing guidelines. But we also need to ensure that the public right of way is respected, and that those with disabilities are not hindered. And we need to ensure that outdoor dining protocols are equitable—that they work as well in Juniata and East Oak Lane as they do in Center City.”

The Mayor said the City hopes to announce outdoor dining protocols next week. “We are still determining how this will work in Philadelphia. I don’t want our business owners getting ahead of the regulations and preparing for outdoor dining next week. We are not giving the green light to move forward until the guidance is complete, so no restaurant should be announcing plans to launch outdoor dining on June 5. We need you to wait, to ensure that our protocols can be followed.”

“PHL Love” Fundraising: Mayor Kenney today announced that last week’s “PHL Love” event, a concert to support the PHL COVID-19 Fund, raised more than $1.5 million for nonprofits throughout the region. That brings the PHL COVID-19 Fund to over $17 million raised. “I want to thank all of the performers, media outlets and the Middleton Family that made the show possible and all of you for tuning in,” the Mayor said. “These grants are allowing the nonprofits to continue providing community safety nets such as food pantries and health services, as well as preparedness and protection services, such as hygiene supplies and access to accurate information.”

Later today, the Fund will announce a sixth round of grants, providing nearly $2.5 million in a new round of grants to 85 organizations. That brings the total distributed since the fund was started only two months ago to $15 million granted to 468 organizations.

Philabundance Drive-Through Food Distribution at Citizens Bank Park: Beginning May 29, Philabundance will operate a drive-through emergency food distribution site at Citizens Bank Park on Fridays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Drivers of each vehicle will receive one share of food provisions (approximately 35 pound pounds of food) while supplies last. Attendees are not required to show identification or documentation. To support social distancing, food will only be distributed to individuals in cars. This weekly distribution will run through June 26.

The new drive-through site will build on the City’s partnership with Philabundance to respond to address food insecurity. Over the last two months, the 40 food sites supported by the City, Philabundance and Share Food Program have distributed over 258,000 free boxes of food to residents.

June Virtual Updates on COVID-19 Coronavirus Response: Starting Monday, June 1 the City will only hold COVID-19 briefings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for members of the media. Press releases will be distributed daily, Monday through Friday.

Testing Site Map: A new testing site finder at phila.gov/testing helps people find a free COVID-19 test in Philadelphia. Anyone can search for a site by address, click on a map location for specific site information, and filter by day of week and by drive-thru or walk-up.

Each of the testing sites has its own requirements, and that information is included for each location on the map. For example, some sites require referrals, appointments, or certain criteria for patients. No sites require payment, insurance, or proof of citizenship. Residents are strongly encouraged to call first for an appointment or referral; all necessary phone numbers are available on the map.

The finder is available in six languages, and the map will continue to be updated as new testing sites are opened.

Expanded Testing Standards: The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is recommending COVID-19 coronavirus testing for anyone, regardless of age, who meets this criteria:

  • Known or suspected exposure within the last seven days.
  • A new cough, new shortness of breath, or two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, new loss of taste or smell.

The expansion of testing recommendations comes as a result of the increasing availability of coronavirus testing at public health and commercial laboratories. Increased testing for the coronavirus is a key part of the City’s and Pennsylvania’s plan to re-open safely.

COVID-19 Resources:

Resources for Media:

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