THE COVID-19 PAGE
Revised: 06/25/23
This page aims to inform local Philadelphia readers of the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to Philadelphia and environs.
basic covid-19 statistics for philadelphia
Data Sources: Pa. Dept of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
New cases: 7-day average of 6.3 per day for the City as a whole. Data through 6/14/23
Deaths: 7-day average of new deaths, Philadelphia county: < 1 (as of 6/11/23 -total of 3 deaths in June through that date.)
These are the CDC’s recommended actions based on low-level COVID-19 risk:
If you are at high risk of getting very sick, wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) when indoors in public.
If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them.
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including recommended booster doses.
Maintain ventilation improvements.
Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Vaccination Levels (Philadelphia):
The percent of Philadelphia’s population which has completed their primary series of vaccination (pre-boosters) is 76.4 %. This statistic is higher (80.6 %) when considering only those who are 5 years old or older.
The corresponding figure for the entire population of the state of Pennsylvania is 94.9 %.
Booster Shots:
The percent of the Philadelphia’s population which has received booster shots is still very low: 16.7 %. This is troubling because those who have not received boosters are relying on their initial, primary course of vaccinations and are at increasing risk as the potency of the initial course fades with time.
VACCINATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
All Philadelphia residents of age 3 months and older are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In the case of very young children (age 5 and younger), see the next section.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is currently free to all who reside in the U.S.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine for my 5-and-under child?
The following is quoted from the City's guidance page "COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children under five"
Finding a COVID-19 vaccine for your child may be more difficult than when you got yours. It takes a special set of skills to be able to administer vaccine to very young children. That means that it’s not available in as many places as before.
The best place to get your child their COVID-19 vaccine is at their regular pediatrician’s office. Not all pediatricians are carrying the vaccine, though. That means you should call ahead to see if they will be offering it. There may also be delays in receiving the vaccine, so call ahead to make sure they have it. If your doctor’s office does not offer the vaccine and your child is 3 or older, they can get vaccinated at participating pharmacies. There are also vaccine providers in the city offering vaccine to children whose doctors are not offering the shots.
See the City's website for a further discussion of immunization against COVID-19 for those under 5.
Boosters for very young children: The FDA now (December 2022) has cleared the use of “updated” Moderna and Pfizer booster shots for tots starting at age 6 months. These are shots that guard against both the early forms of the virus and the later omicron variants. Read this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer explaining how to determine the eligibility of your child.
PHILADELPHIA MASK GUIDELINES
The current guidelines stem from the City's press release of 4/22/22:
"The City of Philadelphia announced today that residents and visitors are strongly encouraged, but not required, to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. This change follows a recent leveling-off of case counts and a decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the City. This change is effective immediately following the Board of Health’s vote on Thursday night to rescind the requirement."
Schools: (Update: students and staff in District schools will be required to wear a mask whenever inside a school building for the first two weeks after returning after Christmas vacation, due to the increased risk of infection) . After two weeks, it is expected that the earlier policy will be reinstated - masking in school is highly recommended but not required for most students (exceptions include students who have recently tested positive for COVID-19). You can read the full set of protocols for students and staff here.
PAXLOVID
WHAT OLDER AMERICANS NEED TO KNOW
What older Americans need to know about taking Paxlovid [www.inquirer.com]
RESOURCES FOR COVID-19 AFTER THE END OF THE DECLARED NATIONAL EMERGENCY
The following article is from the Philadelphia Inquirer. It describes resources for treatment, testing, and vaccination related to the COVID-19 pandemic which remain available after the formal end of the National Emergency on Feb 11 2023. The availability of some of these resources may change as we move further from that date.
The COVID-19 emergency may be declared over, but resources are still available. Here’s where to find help in Philadelphia.
Resource hubs offer drop-in assistance and free services in five Philadelphia neighborhoods
Resources include free over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits and face masks.
In West Philly: Bethany Baptist Church 5747 Warrington Ave M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Entrance on 58th St. See linked article for other locations
Test Kit Expiration Dates
Reminder: The FDA keeps track of a list of available test kits whose expiration dates have been extended. Check by supplier and by printed expiration date.