In response to rising COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia, the City and Department of Public Health have announced changes to restrictions on businesses, events and gatherings, and other activities to help flatten the epidemic curve, prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths.
The new “Safer at Home” restrictions are effective November 20, 2020.
UPDATE 1/1/21: Philadelphia’s current “Safer at Home” restrictions were to be implemented through at least January 1, and the Commonwealth’s latest restrictions are set to expire at 8 a.m. on the morning of January 4. Based on the data and spikes in positive cases following past holidays, the City will continue its current restrictions for the riskiest settings through at least January 15. Learn more about updated restrictions here.
UPDATE 2/27/21: The latest changes to the Safer at Home restrictions will begin March 1, 2021. Key changes to Philadelphia’s restrictions are outlined below. The City’s new guidance is intended to bring Philadelphia in line with the state’s current guidance. Protocols are dependent on consistent, universal mask use where appropriate.
Changes include:
- Retail settings and religious services are allowed to double their capacity limit from 10 people per 1,000 square feet to 20 people per 1,000 square feet.
- Senior centers are allowed to reopen for the first time since the start of the pandemic; attendees and staff must be masked the entire time with either a KN95 mask, or double-masked with a procedure mask and a cloth mask.
- Indoor theaters and performance venues are allowed to expand to state capacity limits and can allow food service, but only if diners sit in groups of four or fewer consistent with indoor dining guidance.
- Other gatherings and events are allowed to expand to state capacity limits; this includes sporting events.
- Restaurants can now allow up to six people per table outdoors only; there is no change in maximum capacity for indoor dining, which remains at four people per table.
- Outdoor catered events, like celebrations and weddings, are now allowed to have a maximum capacity of 100 people.
The following activities are still not allowed:
- Indoor catered events.