KEY UPDATES
• There City announced there will be no citywide curfewin Philadelphia this evening. City press release for today is available
here.
• Business owners should call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious or criminal activity.
• All property owners are responsible for securing exposed storefronts with existing damage. If you need a list of contractors, please contact the Commerce Department’s Office of Business Services at 215-683-2100.
• Businesses should also reach out to their insurance companies as soon as possible to find out about coverage of damage and loss of business due to citywide civil unrest.
• PPA Parking meter enforcement has resumed todaywithin Center City and University City. City-wide enforcement of meters will resume Monday, June 22. When enforcement of parking meters resumes, contact-free payment options are available. Customers are encouraged to make contact-free payments through the PPA’s mobile payment app,
meterUP. Mobile payments can also be made via meterUP by calling 1-877-727-5303.
Information on demonstration activity planned for tomorrow is not available at this time. Please continue to monitor the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC) Business Operations Center portal at https://share.dhs.gov/dvicboc. for situational awareness and updates.
It should be noted that some of this information describes first amendment protected activities. The City of Philadelphia recognizes the constitutionally protected rights to assemble, speak, and petition the government. The City of Philadelphia safeguards these rights and only reports on first amendment protected activities for situational awareness in the interest of assuring the safety and security of the demonstrators and the public.
• Transportation Updates
- SEPTA bus, rail, trolley, and CCT service operating on a normal schedule.
- SEPTA Regional Rail will continue to operate on Lifeline Service until further notice. See SEPTA website for updates.
- All passengers and operators on SEPTA systems are required to wear a face mask or covering starting today, June 8.
- PATCO is operating on a normal schedule. See PATCO website for updates.
- NJ Transit is operating normal service to Philadelphia. See the NJ Transit website for updates.
- Amtrak continues to operate service on an Essential Service Plan in response to COVID-19. See the Amtrak website for updates.
- CSX is operating on a normal schedule at this time.
• Road Closures
- No Center City secure perimeter in place at this time. There are no plans to implement the perimeter today unless conditions warrant otherwise.
- Betsy Ross Bridge ramp from 90-E to 130-N CLOSED due to construction. Expect delays.
- Benjamin Franklin Bridge is OPEN in both directions. There are no traffic diversions on to I-95 NB and SB at this time. The pedestrian walkway is open. For text alert updates on status of bridge access to Philadelphia, text DRPA to 888-777 or visit the DRPA website.
- For updates from PennDOT on travel delays and traffic alerts, visit http://511pa.com/.
- There is restricted access in the area of the Fire Administration Building on Spring Garden Street between 2nd & 3rd Streets due to public safety operations. 3rd Street between Callowhill and Spring Garden is restricted to vehicular traffic and non-essential travel.
- Continue to plan for rolling road closures throughout the day by the Philadelphia Police Department Headquarters (“The Roundhouse”) in the area of 7thand Race Street
- Rolling closures are expected as demonstration activity moves throughout the City.
GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES WITH DAMAGE
• Any business that has sustained damage as a result of the recent demonstrations in Philadelphia should call 9-1-1 to request a police report. The Philadelphia Police Department will assign a police officer to report to the location at a scheduled time to complete a report. Reports can also be taken at any police district. Please understand that there is an increase in 9-1-1 call volumes given the current situation, but your concerns and requests will be addressed as soon as possible.
• Businesses should document damage sustained to business to the extent possible by:
o Taking photos of the damage.
o Obtaining a police report through the Philadelphia Police Department.
o Reporting damage to business insurance company.
o Saving camera footage for investigation.
• Businesses should reach out to the Commerce Department regarding resources for businesses that experienced damage from the looting.
• Philadelphia is now in the Yellow Phase of reopening as of June 5. The City’s
Safer at Home plan and
executive order outlines how Philadelphia will begin to reopen for business. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health continues to advise residents that they are “safer at home,” and should only leave to engage in essential activities.
• The City won’t be issuing day-by-day guidance on how businesses should begin to resume operations. At this time, all businesses who are allowed to operate during the ‘Yellow Phase’ are legally able to do so. We are hopeful that the unrest experienced last weekend is settling into more peaceful protests, as seen over the past few days. The City began reopening its own buildings for employees effective Monday, June 8 and will begin limited re-openings for the public in the near future.
• Continued Precautions: As they restart, businesses will be required by the Safer-at-Home Order to follow a safety checklist of operations called “
Safe Mode” to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additional recommendations for different types of businesses and activities are detailed in a separate set of industry-specific guidelines
available here.
• Outdoor Dining guidelines pending: Outdoor dining will be able to resume for businesses that are currently licensed for such activities beginning June 12, under specific guidance that is still being developed by the City and within their existing footprint. That guidance and an application process to expand opportunities for businesses not currently licensed for outdoor dining will be made available sometime this week.
• Flush dormant building water systems: Philadelphia Water Department has developed
guidance advising owners and operators of dormant buildings to flush building water systems before reopening to maintain water quality. Buildings that have been closed or used less frequently may experience problems with water quality due to stagnation.
• City Operations: The City will implement a “Safe Return to Work” program as it brings employees back to work in a phased manner, based on a prioritized schedule that aligns with City and State guidelines while minimizing the potential for the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Starting today, public-facing City services will commence in phases.
• Guidance for businesses reopening:
FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES
Please remember to continue following all health guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19, as the pandemic is still ongoing.
- Wear a mask.
- Stay six feet away from others.
- Wash your hands frequently.
The CDC provided guidance for public settings and public transportation encouraging social distancing and wearing cloth face coverings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you need a prescription filled and your regular pharmacy is closed or inaccessible, you should first go to another store in the same pharmacy chain. All stores within a chain will have your prescription information.
1. If you cannot find a store in the same chain, go to an open store from a different pharmacy chain and ask the pharmacist to request your prescription information from the chain you regularly go to.
2. If your regular pharmacy was not part of a chain or other pharmacists cannot get the information, you should contact your doctor to get a new prescription.
NEXT STEPS
• At this time, no Center City secure perimeter or curfew is planned for tomorrow, June 8. Additional updates will be provided tomorrow as they become available.
• Businesses owners in Philadelphia who have questions about support for businesses affected by vandalism, can email
business@phila.gov. The business hotline at 215-683-2100 will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Anyone interested in volunteering to support business and corridor clean-up efforts can call the Office of Business Services hotline.
• All donations to support affected businesses should be made to the local business organization or association.
• To receive emergency alerts from the City of Philadelphia, text ReadyPhila to 888-777.
• Continue to monitor the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC) Business Operations Center portal at
https://share.dhs.gov/dvicboc. for situational awareness and updates. The portal will be open based on the presence of demonstration activity in the City.
