PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today announced 105 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 32,674.

The Department of Public Health confirmed no additional fatalities in Philadelphia. The number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia remains at 1,735. Of the 1,735 total deaths, 866 (50%) were long-term care facility residents. Current and cumulative totals of both symptomatic and asymptomatic positive cases in Philadelphia prisons are now posted on the testing and data page of the City’s COVID-19 website.

Indoor Dining Update: Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley announced today that the City will permit indoor dining to resume effective September 8, 2020, the day after Labor Day. Indoor dining will be permitted under specific restrictions that are largely consistent with indoor dining restrictions statewide.

The City’s new indoor dining restrictions include, but will not be limited to, the following:

  • Restaurants cannot be filled to more than 25 percent capacity.
  • No more than four diners per table.
  • Tables must be arranged so that diners at separate tables are at least six feet apart or have an impermeable barrier between them.
  • Servers must wear both masks and face shields for additional protection.
  • No bar service. Alcohol can be served only for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal.
  • Last call for all indoor dining orders will be at 11 p.m. and establishments will be required to be closed for service by midnight.
  • Restaurants must install physical barriers such as sneeze guards or partitions in restaurant kitchens and at cash registers, host stands, and food pick up areas where maintaining physical distance of at least six feet is difficult.
  • Restaurants must screen every employee for symptoms before every shift and prevent them from remaining on-site if they have cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, or new loss of taste or smell.

Restaurant owners are also being urged to increase ventilation in their establishments to further decrease the risk of transmission. “We are announcing this change now in order to give restaurant operators sufficient time to prepare,” said Dr. Farley. “However, we move forward with an abundance of caution. Between now and September 8, should we witness an increase in the rate of COVID-19 case counts in Philadelphia, we will reconsider whether this change is still viable.”

Outdoor dining can continue under current restrictions, including having no more than 50 people outside. The full list of restrictions for restaurants and food trucks is available here.

Additional Reopening Updates: The Department of Public Health also announced that bowling alleys, arcades, and other indoor games will be allowed to resume effective immediately. Indoor theaters and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen on September 8. Venues are not to exceed 50 percent capacity, with a maximum of 25 people allowed. All of these venues will need to prohibit food and drink on site in order to open. Guidance for these establishments will be posted to phila.gov/reopen.

Access Centers: The City today announced a partnership with community-based organizations to open Access Centers that will provide supervised, connected spaces for children during digital learning in the fall.

The City-run Access Centers will be free to families and located in neighborhoods to serve Philadelphia’s most vulnerable children. To ensure that the Access Centers are available for families with the greatest need, enrollment will prioritize children whose caregivers work outside of the home and cannot afford or access childcare support.

The first phase of Access Centers will open on September 8 with 31 sites serving approximately 800 Philadelphia students (grades K-6). First phase locations include Philadelphia Parks & Recreation rec centers, Free Library of Philadelphia branches, and Philadelphia Housing Authority sites. They will be supported by the Office of Children and Families’ Out-of-School Time network and community-based organizations. All staff will have appropriate training and clearances, and Access Centers will follow health and safety guidelines set by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

The City has created an Access Center FAQ for families. Detailed information about eligibility, site locations, and how to enroll will be posted to the City’s website at phila.gov/accesscenters next week. Additional sites will be added on a rolling basis.

The Access Centers are focused solely on providing childcare support for families without other options. Families who need help with in-home internet access for digital learning can learn more about their options through PHLConnectED.

Daily Trash and Recycling Update: Collections continue to be impacted by severe weather, increased tonnage, and attendance. Residents can check the daily trash and recycling update blog post to see the current status of trash and recycling collections.

  • Trash: One day behind, residents should put out trash one day after their regular collection day.
  • Recycling: Multiple days behind, residents should put out recycling one day after their regular collection day.

Testing Site Map: A 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.

COVID-19 Resources:

Resources for Media:

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