The Coronavirus in Philadelphia

The latest local news on the coronavirus, including updates from city government, ways to help and the community's efforts to fight the disease

By The Citizen

Philadelphia has been in some form of coronavirus quarantine since March 16, 2020.

Local health officials report that citizens are currently at high risk of community transmission, and, as cases begin to rise again, a revamped set of “Safer at Home” restrictions will begin on November 20, including the closing of museums, gyms and schools, and indoor dining is banned.

To date, more than 69,600 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Philadelphia, and 1,990 Philadelphians have died from the virus. You can keep track of the total here. You can find testing sites here.

You can stay on top of the City of Philadelphia’s regular updates on the coronavirus epidemic here, along with a variety of resources and services to help you get through this experience.

Below you’ll find some of the ways we’ve been covering the pandemic, including analysis on the City’s response, resources to provide or get help and stories about ways in which the community is stepping up to help those in need.

Check out our Covid coverage

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY DURING COVID-19

First, Heal Yourself
Feeling anxious about the pandemic? The state rolled out a free, confidential, 24/7 support and referral helpline to help anyone who’s struggling
Photo Essay: “You Wear The Mask For Me”
As Covid-19 cases rise in Philly, the act of wearing a mask has come to mean more than just health. It’s good citizenship
  • Emily's Entourage founder Emily Kramer-Golinkoff stands amongst trees in a forest.
Tips from a life of avoiding infection
A local cystic fibrosis patient and advocate has spent her whole life avoiding viruses. In the time of coronavirus, we could all benefit from her experience
  • A young African American child washes his hands in a public water fountain.
Guest Commentary: The Color of Coronavirus
Black and brown Philadelphians may be the hardest hit by COVID-19—as they are by so many issues. A local writer and educator has some ideas to fight that.

 

HOW TO HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC

Help People Who Are Homeless in Philadelphia
More than 15 ways to make a difference in the lives of Philadelphians experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness
How to Fight Food Insecurity in Philly
Donate peanut butter! Organize a food drive! Sort cans! Here are 15 simple things you can do now to help food insecure citizens of Philadelphia.
  • Volunteers load boxes of food that will be donated to people in need during the Covid-19 pandemic
How to Help During the Pandemic Right Now
Here, our regularly updated guide to specific ways you can continue to help communities affected by Covid-19
Your Servers Still Need You
As Covid surges in the region, the 70,000+ Philadelphians who work in the city’s food industry continue to face closures and loss of income. Here's how you can help them.

 

HOW PHILLY IS FIGHTING COVID-19

The Color of Coronavirus: Bearing Witness
When the pandemic hit Philly, a local photojournalist felt called to chronicle what was happening in his community. His months with the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium revealed heroism in the midst of tragedy
  • Workers from Germ Hero blast disinfectant on a business to keep it clean during Covid-19
Business for Good: Germ Hero
A trio of entrepreneurs has brought their proprietary cleaning product to Philly to keep businesses clean and customers safe in the age of Covid-19
  • Kenneth Walker Jr., a former candidate for state representative in Pennsylvania, has turned his former campaign office into a food distribution site feeding hundreds of families during Covid-19.
Citizen of the Week: Kenneth Walker Jr.
The North Philly native turned a former campaign office into The Unity Center, a twice-weekly food distribution site whose clients have tripled since Covid-19
  • Delco mother Patty Bassett (center) and her children load boxes full of food for families experiencing hunger in Delaware County during the coronavirus pandemic.
Citizen of the Week: Patty Bassett
The Delco mom pairs families experiencing hunger in the face of Covid-19 with those who can give—right in their own backyards
  • Health care workers received PPE from Mask Match
Business For Good: Mask Match
Two Swarthmore alums are using their tech skills to get PPE in the hands of those who need it most
  • Proyecto Tamal chefs prepare tamales to sell to Philadelphians during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Tamal To Feed Them All
A Philly chef makes and sells tamales with out-of-work immigrant cooks hit hard by the pandemic—and ineligible for unemployment
  • A woman loads up a bag with oranges at North Philly Peace Park to help feed families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Feeding Peacetown
The pandemic hasn’t kept North Philly Peace Park from getting healthy food to their neighbors—and building a self-reliant community for the future
  • The Project Shields team poses in front of a statue of Benjamin Franklin that's wearing a face mask that they created with a 3-D printer.
Shielding those in harm’s way
Four Penn alums put their startups on hold to 3D-print face shields for Covid-19 frontline workers in Philly, and beyond
  • Looking for a way to connect with neighbors, South Philly resident Robin Mack-Ward, a realtor, used the Free Library’s One Book, One Philly program as inspiration for launching One Philly Coronavirus Public Art Project.
Small Acts of Citizenship
These are scary times. But thanks to Philadelphians, they are not uniformly dark
  • Community College of Philadelphia staff member Pisetta Arrington gives free food to a man during the coronavirus pandemic in Philadelphia.
Citizen of the Week: Piseitta Arrington
The Northeast Philly resident has been donating food to hungry Community College of Philadelphia students since January. Now, she’s offering free meals to a different population: those in need because of coronavirus
  • Poor People's Army volunteers delivery diapers.
Community Cure
As coronavirus upends our lives, community organizers aren’t waiting for the government to help us—supporting each other is the only way through

 

THINGS TO DO DURING CORONAVIRUS

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The Philly-est Outdoor Dining in Philadelphia
Follow our guide to outdoor dining in Philly to discover spots around town for delicious food and drink in gardens, on tucked-away patios and other Insta-worthy surrounds
  • A woman lays back and watches a funny movie during her coronavirus quarantine—with popcorn in hand!
Surviving the Quarantine: What Movies to Stream
Local film experts share streaming recommendations for viewers of all ages
  • Someone plays a fun and intricate board game during coronavirus quarantine
Surviving the Quarantine: Board Games
Bored? (Batty?) These local game café owners have recommendations to keep you and everyone in your pandemic squad entertained
  • A woman goes out for a walk during coronavirus quarantine and keeps herself company with a podcast.
Surviving the quarantine: Podcasts to Get Us Through
Some of Philly’s most revered podcasters share the podcasts they’re listening to
  • A tattooed arm holds up a stack of recommended books to read during the coronavirus quarantine
Surviving the quarantine: 50 Books to Read Now
Some of The Citizen’s favorite citizens share what they’re reading to get them through the twilight zone, er, pandemic

 

THE CORONAVIRUS AND EDUCATION

  • Students in a classroom write with pencils. What will it look like as we begin reopening schools in Philadelphia?
How to Remake Schools
Eight questions to consider as we look to reopening schools in Philly
  • A little boy reads in a sliver of sunshine coming through his living room window during the coronavirus pandemic. Keeping kids engaged with text is one key to avoiding the Covid slide during the pandemic.
Tackling the Covid Slide
Keeping students from falling behind may be simpler than we think
  • Glue, markers and other supplies in the free art kits that Fresh Artists is sending to Philadelphia kids in need during the coronavirus quarantine
Home is where the art is
In the time of Covid-19, Fresh Artists has taken its public school art program to where the students are: In their own homes
 
Header image courtesy R. Kennedy / Visit Philadelphia
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