PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today reported an additional 12,381 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Philadelphia since last reported on Thursday, December 30. This brings the total number of fully vaccinated Philadelphians to at least 962,075 , and the number of Philadelphians with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to at least 1,217,793. Currently, 77.5 percent of Philadelphia adults are fully vaccinated, and 98.1 percent of Philadelphia adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

All residents ages five and older are eligible to be vaccinated in Philadelphia. 25.3 percent of 5-to-11-year-olds in Philadelphia have received at least one vaccine dose. Among eligible Philadelphians ages 12 and older, 71.8 percent are fully vaccinated, and 90.8 percent have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The Department of Health reports 949 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 66 on ventilators.

In the last two weeks, 38 percent of COVID-19 tests in Philadelphia have come back positive. Thus far during the pandemic, 215,251 Philadelphians have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 4,233 have succumbed to the virus. Philadelphia is averaging 2,654 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the last two weeks.

City Continues to Support In-Person Learning in Philadelphia Schools: The Health Department released the following statement regarding in-person education in Philadelphia: “The Health Department believes that in-person learning is critical to the well-being of our children and deeply appreciate the commitment of the city schools to maintaining in-person education as consistently as possible,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “We encourage all school staff to be vaccinated and boosted and all parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated to protect them against COVID-19 infection. Doing this will help to minimize the need to pause in-person learning in classrooms and schools and to keep children healthy and in school. With the recent surge in cases, we also recommend double masking with a well-fitting cloth mask over a paper mask or use of an N95 or KN95 for additional protection.”

The full school guidance can be found on the City’s COVID-19 website.

Health Department Posts New Vaccine Exemption Templates: While the Health Department strongly encourages every Philadelphian to be fully vaccinated and to get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they’re eligible, there are some people who cannot receive a vaccine. On January 3, 2022, the City of Philadelphia is instituting a vaccine mandate for establishments that offer indoor onsite food and drink consumption. By completing the appropriate template, Philadelphians who cannot be vaccinated will be able to continue to enjoy their favorite restaurants and eating and drinking establishments. The templates, and all of the City’s guidance, are available online.

City Warns Residents to Avoid Unaffiliated COVID-19 Testing Pop-Up Tents: Last week, the Health Department was notified of small pop-up tents that were offering free COVID-19 testing operating in Center City. The staff who worked at these sites claimed they were funded by FEMA. Over the weekend, it was confirmed that these sites were not funded by FEMA. The City is asking residents who see these pop-up COVID-19 testing tents to avoid them and call the Health Department at 215-685-5488 to report them. The Health Department maintains a testing finder at phila.gov/testing. Due to the overwhelming need for testing right now, people who are experiencing symptoms, but cannot find testing, are encouraged to act as if they are already positive.

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