Social distancing has demonstrated to be an effective tool in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 . However, the simple recommendation to practice it has not been enough for the residents of some cities. That is the reason why Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced a “stay at home” order which went into effect at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 23.
According to the Major, the citizens in general had shown an attitude too relaxed regarding the serious situation generated by the pandemic.
Hence the need for a stricter guideline for what residents should and should not do.
“There were too many people on the street, there were still too many people not taking it seriously,” Kenney said at a press briefing, noting he’d been told about various basketball games at playgrounds, group picnics in parks and other gatherings around the city. “We wanted to ramp up the level of concern.”
Now the number of people gathered does not count. Any outside congregation is banned in Philadelphia. Exceptions: If they are for an activity on the essential/live-saving list.
You can read: More coronavirus drive-thru testing sites available in Philadelphia
At the moment here are the specifications of what can be done under this new order
You can leave home in order to:
- Shop for groceries and supplies
- Pick up pre-ordered restaurant food
- Get medicine for yourself, family or related
- Care for family, friends, related, pets, or drop off food, medicine or supplies
- Look for medical attention or emergency law enforcement
- Report to your job if it is considered essential
- Exercise
It is important to note that for these activities it is strongly recommended to maintain 6 feet of space between you and any other person.
In order to give residents more space for outdoor activities, MLK Drive along the Schuylkill River has been closed.
In case of risk to your safety, you can leave your home. The same applies if your departure is required by the police.
You can read: Layoffs at Philadelphia at International Airport for Covid-19
These restrictions do not apply to people experiencing homelessness. Although they are strongly urged to find shelter if they can.
Operational procedures for businesses
Despite the stay-at-home order does not change much about which kinds of businesses are allowed to operate in the city, the new guidelines include the following procedures:
- Restaurants, whic have turned to takeout as dine-in service is banned, are no longer allowed to accept walk-up orders for food or alcoholic beverages to go. All food must be ordered in advance online or via phone , unless it is at a drive-thru, which are allowed to continue operating. Although the orders must be made in advance, this does not imply that you have to pay in advance.
- Food trucks and ice cream trucks must cease operation.
- Supermarkets must “discourage leisure or idle conduct” among customers i.e. no chatting is allowed in those spaces. Stores have to “manage” store occupancy to allow for proper social distancing; for example, only allowing a certain number of people inside at any given time and/or marking on the floor how far apart people should stand when waiting in line to check out.
- Any other essential business must limit on-site personnel to those people who are needed to maintain critical functions that can’t be done remotely. For example, security, payroll or mail-handling staff in office buildings.
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