Philadelphia residents will long remember the months of March, April, and May 2020. A new virus arrived in the city, rapidly spreading to every neighborhood and to every group of people. The virus sickened tens of thousands of residents and commuters, sent thousands to local hospitals, and killed more than 1,000 Philadelphians. In response, Commonwealth and City officials issued Business Activity and Stay-at-Home Orders that shuttered businesses and organizations, and that sharply curtailed residents’ movements. Philadelphians learned about the importance of face coverings, six-foot distancing, and handwashing.

As severe as this epidemic has been, it is clear that the response prevented it from being far worse. The City’s Business Activity and Stay-at-Home Order caused daily case counts to plateau and then fall, prevented hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and by some models, saved thousands of lives. Philadelphia now faces the next phase of the epidemic response – scaling back restrictions on social and business activities in a way that prevents resurgence of the epidemic.