The city of Philadelphia will “pause” its reopening plan after cases increased in the past week, as the city previously expected local companies to expand their operations.
“The goals we set to go green will not be met this Friday,” city health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Our daily case count will be no less than 80.”
Eating indoors or opening gyms and fitness centers will not be allowed until August 1, Farley said.
He said the city will continue with a “modified green” phase of the Pennsylvania reopening protocol, beginning Friday, July 3. That means that some attractions like museums, libraries and closed shopping malls may be open to visitors. Small indoor and outdoor gatherings will also be allowed, the city said.
He added that city officials will re-examine the delay in these openings weekly.
The hiatus will affect the 4,200 restaurants in Philadelphia that offer indoor dining.
“It could overwhelm our hospital systems and cause an increase in deaths,” Farley said of a complete reopening.
There were 142 new cases reported Tuesday in Philadelphia, bringing the city’s total to 26,133.
“Our cases are more likely to be younger people [now]Farley said.
Pennsylvania overall has seen an increase in cases in recent days, according to state data.
Philadelphia, similar to New Jersey, recommends a 14-day quarantine for people coming to the city or returning city residents who have traveled to the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Farley in an NBC10 interview on Monday noted that a study by the Health Department last week found that 78% of people inside retail stores wore masks and 55% wore masks on public transportation.
The city last week instituted the mandatory use of masks in indoor public settings as well as outdoor settings where social distancing is not possible. However, there is no application of the new rule, authorities said.
“I am very concerned that hospitals are overwhelmed and any action we take here is with that in mind,” Farley said Monday. “We don’t want to become another Houston or another Miami.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also said Monday that plans to allow some meals indoors will be shelved for now.
This story will be updated.
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