PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today announced 505 additional presumptive confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 4,777.

The Health Department confirmed 13 additional fatalities in Philadelphia. This brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 78. Thirty-two of the 78 deaths are long-term care facility residents. Fifty-three (68%) of the 78 deaths were in people over age 70.

The Department of Public Health reports 616 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 1,062 people hospitalized in the region (including Philadelphia).

The Department of Public Health again noted clusters of positive cases in congregate settings, including nursing homes, behavioral health facilities and the Department of Prisons. Four additional inmates have tested positive, bringing the total to 62.

Temporary change in student meal distribution: The School District’s 49 student meal distribution sites will be closed on Monday, April 13. Meals that would have been distributed Monday, April 13, will be available instead on Tuesday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is a temporary schedule change due to the City and School District’s observance of Good Friday, which alters the meal packing schedule.

The usual Monday and Thursday distribution schedule will resume on Thursday, April 16. Please note: The 40 City-supported food sites will remain open on Monday, April 13.

Starting tomorrow on Thursday, April 9, SEPTA will move to a new “Lifeline Service Schedule” operating with limited lines and routes. SEPTA is now asking all riders to wear masks or other facial coverings, consistent with new CDC guidelines, to protect both riders and operators.

Access to stations will be limited, and SEPTA police will engage customers to ensure that they are traveling for essential purposes. The new limited schedules are focused on providing access to hospitals, grocery stores and other life-sustaining services. The Lifeline Service Schedule will provide core services for essential travel, control access to the system and further focus cleaning efforts to protect the health and safety of customers and employees.

Buses, subways, and trolleys that are in service will continue to follow Saturday schedules, and available Regional Rail service will run every two hours. Customers should check https://www.septa.org/ for full details.

Labor Agreement: Mayor Kenney today announced that the City has reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract extension with District Council 47. This comes one week after an agreement on a similar extension with FOP Lodge 5 was reached. Negotiations with District Council 33 and Local 22 are continuing. The current contracts with all four municipal worker unions expire at the end of June.

The one-year extension with DC47 includes a two percent increase in each step of each pay range in the District 47 pay plan. It also includes one-time bonuses of either $450 or $700, depending on whether the employee is working onsite during the pandemic for the majority of their time.

“I want to publicly thank Cathy Scott and her leadership team at District Council 47 for their willingness to step up and agree to a deal that I think makes sense for everyone,” said the Mayor. “I know this has been an unsettling time for her members, and for all City workers. This extension will allow the City and the union to get through the turbulence of this pandemic, and by next year we’ll all have a better idea of what makes sense for a longer-term deal. I look forward to ratification by the membership.”

City Services on Good Friday: All City of Philadelphia offices will be closed and City services curtailed on April 10, 2020 for Good Friday. Trash will not be collected on Friday, April 10. Residents who have collection on Friday should set out their trash on Friday evening after 5 p.m. for collection on Saturday. Recycling collections will resume next week and will continue on an every-other-week schedule until further notice, as part of the curtailed schedule that was previously announced.

All City District Health Centers are closed on Good Friday. The Community-Based Testing Site at Citizens Bank Park and the City-run COVID-19 testing site in Center City are both open on Good Friday.

District offices of the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I); the L&I License and Permit Center at the Municipal Services Building; the Marriage License Bureau; the Free Library of Philadelphia and all of its branches; and the executive offices of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, as well as its Violations Branch at 9th and Filbert streets will all remain closed. All Philadelphia Parks and Recreation parks and trails will remain open.

Executive offices of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, as well as its Violations Branch at 9th and Filbert streets will remain closed until further notice. However, enforcement of safety violations will remain in effect.

Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities will remain closed to visitors on Good Friday. Executive offices will be closed.

City offices will reopen on Monday, April 13, 2020. All City buildings remain closed to the public due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Testing Sites: The testing site at Citizens Bank Park will be discontinued after 6 p.m. on Friday, April 10. Remaining testing kits will be redistributed to other sites to expand their capacity, and any personal protective equipment (PPE) will be used to support hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The City-run location in Center City, announced last week, will continue to serve those who are over the age of 50 and are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as health care workers who are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus. The site is available by appointment only and a referral is required. Those who meet the criteria and want a test can call (267) 491-5870 to obtain a referral.

There are also more than 20 private testing sites across the city run by hospital systems and other organizations.

COVID-19 Resources:

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