Philly is easing some restrictions | Coronavirus Newsletter
Plus, how Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is different from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/YOOXBNOKZ5AVDMRAWA7WVYZ2RM.jpg)
TL;DR: Philadelphia will loosen some coronavirus restrictions starting Monday. Federal advisers voted Friday to recommend a COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson and Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the city could receive doses of this one-shot vaccine as early as next week.
— Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com)
What you need to know:
😷 Philadelphia opened its second standing COVID-19 vaccine clinic Thursday, and will open a third in West Philadelphia on Saturday. FEMA will open a mass coronavirus vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center as early as March 3 and Philly is also encouraging hospitals to hold mass vaccination clinics as vaccine supplies grow.
🏥 Pennsylvania is “shooting for” the general public to start getting vaccinated in the summer.
💉 Most kids and teens can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine. So why did Pennsylvania send thousands of doses to pediatricians?
💰 ‘Self-employed’ PPP winners have been largely white-collar. New Biden rules aim to change that.
🦠 New infections have spiked so much at the University of Delaware that the school announced “swift” new restrictions on students to curb the spread.
📰 What’s going on in your county or neighborhood? We organized recent coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by local counties and Philly neighborhoods mentioned in the stories to make it easier for you to find the info you care about.
Local coronavirus cases
📈 The coronavirus has swept across the Philadelphia region and cases continue to mount. The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on tests conducted, cases confirmed, and deaths caused by the virus. Track the spread here.
Philadelphia will ease some coronavirus restrictions starting Monday, including allowing spectators at sporting events, reopening senior centers for the first time since last March, and letting food and drinks be consumed in movie theaters. “It’s one step closer to us returning to normal,” Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said. Read more here for details on changes, including restaurant seating, religious services, and shops.
Federal advisers voted Friday to recommend a COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson and Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the city could receive doses of this vaccine as early as next week. This third vaccine, like the others, seems to succeed at keeping people out of the hospital, and shows no signs of causing severe, lasting side effects. But for this one, recipients need just one dose instead of two. Read more about the J&J vaccine here.
Helpful resources
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool.
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference.
What to know about face masks, including whether to double up and when it might be time to replace yours.
These principles of social distancing can help you figure out what you can and can’t do.
Here’s how to avoid coronavirus vaccine scams.
You got this: Wear masks even if you’re vaccinated
One reader recently asked: “If all members of a friend group have been fully vaccinated, is it safe to get together indoors without any precautions?” My colleague Grace Dickinson spoke with experts who explained why it is important to still wear a mask. Read more here.
😷 If you’re vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19, you don’t need to quarantine, as long as you meet these criteria. Pennsylvania’s guidance now follows the CDC’s.
🎲 To do this week: Comics, board games, and a twist on a favorite comfort food.
🖼️ Transformational changes at the Museum of Art will debut May 7, with two major exhibitions in new galleries
Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter.
What we’re paying attention to
Kaiser Health News investigated federal, state, and local COVID-19 registration sites and found they are violating disability laws.
The joy of vax: “The people giving the shots are seeing hope, and it’s contagious,” the Washington Post reports.
STAT reports on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s nursing home policy mistakes and what policy lessons can be learned from it.
Enjoy getting our journalism through email? You can also sign up for The Inquirer Morning Newsletter to get the latest news, features, investigations and more sent straight to your inbox each morning Sunday-Friday. Sign up here.