No Spike In Coronavirus Cases After Philly Protests: Officials
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley Tuesday addressed how the numerous protests over the last two weeks have impacted the city's coronavirus case count.
During a news conference Tuesday, Farley said the city's total case count is 24,591 after reporting 116 new cases.
He said before the protests over George Floyd's death, about 1,900 coronavirus tests were being administered daily.
That figure dropped to about 1,500 as protests occurred throughout the city.
Now, he said the number of daily tests has risen to nearly 1,800 again. The 116 new cases came from a batch of roughly 2,000 tests.
He said that's less than a 6 percent positive rate, which is the lowest rate the city has seen during the pandemic.
"The fact that the number is above 100 really is more reflective of the fact we are doing more testing than an increase in number of transmissions of the infection," Farley said.
While Farley was happy to share that positive news, he said he is very concerned about some restaurants and their patrons as outdoor dining began.
He said he personally saw and heard from others large groups of people outside restaurants without masks and that some tables were much closer than 6 feet apart.
Farley acknowledged the hardships and financial impacts many restaurants in the city have faced during the pandemic, but said rules and regulations amid the "yellow" phase and the city's "Safer At Home" reopening plan will be enforced. Restaurants who do not follow the guidelines can be fined up to $2,000 a day, Farley said.
An additional 21 deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the city's total death toll to 1,495. Of those deaths, 758 or 51 percent were nursing home residents.
In Philadelphia, there are 276 people being treated for the virus in hospitals. Regional hospitals (including those Philadelphia) are treating 481 people for the virus. Farley said those figures are nearly 75 percent lower than they were at the peak of the epidemic.
This article originally appeared on the Philadelphia Patch
