PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today announced 118 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 143,756. In addition, the Department of Public Health also announced six new probable cases from rapid antigen tests. 

The Department of Public Health confirmed eight additional fatalities in Philadelphia. This brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 3,650. Of the 3,650 total deaths, 1,224 (34%) were long-term care facility residents.

The Department of Public Health reports 193 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 32 on ventilators.

City to Drop Most Safer-at-Home Restrictions on Wednesday, June 2; Indoor Mask Mandate, 11 p.m. Dining Last Call Orders Still in Force:

In response to the lowest number of new cases since late September 2020 and percent positive rates below 3 percent, the City will be lifting all Safer-at-Home restrictions, including density limits, maximum capacity limits, distancing rules, etc. on Wednesday, June 2. The indoor mask mandate and 11 p.m. last call for dining order will continue to be enforced until the Health Department reviews the state of the pandemic and may drop that mandate on Friday, June 11. The last time the Health Department recorded case counts and percent positivity rates this low was in September 2020, which was the lowest since the start of the pandemic. Similar low rates are being recorded regionally and nationally, which leads the Health Department to believe that the low rates should continue.

It was previously announced that the City would lift restrictions on Friday, June 11, but the continued low rates prompted the change in plans. 

“As more Philadelphians get vaccinated, COVID cases in Philadelphia have continued to drop, and positivity and hospitalizations remain low,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “These are encouraging signs that vaccination is truly turning the tide in Philadelphia. We still have work to do to reach all Philadelphians, but we also want people to celebrate the good parts of life that we get back by getting vaccinated.”

No COVID-19 Update on Monday, May 31: Due to the Memorial Day holiday, no COVID-19 press release will be issued on Monday, May 31. 

Scheduling Reminder for COVID-19 Response Briefings: As of Tuesday, May 25, the City is no longer holding standing COVID-19 response briefings every Tuesday; they will be scheduled on an as-needed basis for members of the media. Briefings will be streamed on the Department of Public Health’s Facebook. Beginning next week, the City will publish COVID-19 press releases only on Mondays and Thursdays (excluding holidays). The Health Department will continue to Tweet @PHLPublicHealth daily case counts and vaccination rates. COVID-19 data will continue to be publicly available at phila.gov/covid-19. 

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