Philadelphia
Penn drops mask mandate in most indoor settings, effective immediately
Community members will no longer be required to wear a mask in athletic facilities, libraries, residential halls, and dining halls.
Philadelphia Health Department addresses previous errors in reported COVID-19 vaccination data
In response, Philadelphia will now have a second team of experts to verify vaccine numbers in addition to a new monthly review of vaccination data, the Inquirer reported.
Penn mulls lifting mask mandate as on-campus COVID-19 positivity rate remains low
Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé told the DP that the University is working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia to determine whether it is safe to reverse the mask mandate.
Limited inpatient psychiatric capacity in Philadelphia hospitals puts stress on providers
An October 2021 survey by The National Council for Mental Wellbeing found that 78% of organizations experienced increased demand for behavioral health services in the three months prior.
Flights to Europe from Philadelphia will continue amid Ukrainian conflict
American Airlines currently plans on continuing service to European cities for the immediate future. However, Ukraine has closed its airspace to all civilian flights in light of the conflict.
Philadelphia lifts indoor mask mandate, moves to ‘All Clear’ response level
Effective immediately, masks are no longer required indoors, with exceptions for the “higher-risk” settings of schools, healthcare institutions, congregate settings, and public transportation.
Penn alum, City councilmember Helen Gym to introduce bill for lead-free water in public schools
PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center released a study which revealed that 98% of the Philadelphia public schools tested had drinking water samples contaminated with lead.
COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania fall to lowest counts since August
Pennsylvania’s average new daily case count this week was the lowest it has been since August, and its hospitalization rate the lowest since September.
University City restaurant Pod reopens as KPod with reimagined South Korean dishes
Restaurateur Stephen Starr reopened Pod as KPod on Feb. 9, after almost two years of a COVID-19 pandemic-induced shutdown.
‘Stop Putin! Stop war!’: Hundreds protest Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of City Hall
Hundreds of people at City Hall were draped in the Ukrainian flags and carrying signs, some of which read: “Stop Putin,” “USA help Ukraine,” and “NATO protect our sky.”
Philadelphia School Board passes resolution to promote city voter registration efforts
Students, organization leaders, and elected officials spoke on the Student Voter Education and Registration Resolution, which will make sure that all students have access to civic engagement and voter registration education.
Nearly 100 people protest Penn’s role in evictions of University City Townhomes residents
The protest was hosted by the Coalition to Save the UC Townhomes, a group composed of Penn faculty and students, the Black Bottom tribe, housing justice organizers, and West Philadelphia community members.
Pa. unveiled a new state congressional map. Here’s what Penn political leaders have to say.
The court chose a map submitted by a group of citizens and proposed by the Democratic plaintiffs that used the "least-change" approach to maintain the same, general representation as the previous map.
Members of the Paul Robeson High School community are calling for renovations
Parents, staff, and students of the Robeson High School community gathered at district headquarters on Tuesday to fight for renovations for the school.
Penn and Temple partner to launch program aiming to increase diversity among principals
The program aims to promote diversity among principals and assistant principals in the School District of Philadelphia and specifically targets existing educators within the school district.
Philadelphia may become first U.S. city to run its own municipal bank
The goal of establishing the PPFA is to address racial and economic disparities and aid small businesses.
Penn to jointly operate one of Philadelphia's two upcoming guaranteed income pilots
The University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia’s Housing Development Corporation will jointly operate one of the initiatives, which will focus on housing and be launched in the spring.
SEPTA to alter service and schedule due to overcrowding and understaffing
Seventeen bus routes will undergo slight frequency reductions, and those resources will be shifted to other routes with greater ridership.
Philly Fighting COVID CEO reaches settlement with Pennsylvania Attorney General
The settlement between Shapiro and Andrei Doroshin, CEO of PFC and former Drexel University graduate student, banned Doroshin from involvement in charity, government, or health-related work in Pennsylvania for the next 10 years.