Mayor Jim Kenney and Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday afternoon placed the city and state in a shutdown of all non-essential businesses in an effort fight the spread of coronavirus.
Kenney’s order dictates all nonessential businesses shut down by 5 p.m. today. Statewide, the shutdown goes into effect at midnight.
“I would like people to stay home 24 hours a day,” Wolf said.
In the city, businesses such as supermarkets, gas stations, banks, post offices, daycares and veterinary clinics will be allowed to remain open.
Kenney’s order will halt all nonessential government operations by Tuesday and will see city government offices closed to the public, with only essential government employees reporting to work.
Wolf’s order shortly followed Kenney’s. Wolf said he anticipates holding the shutdown for two weeks, but that the situation will be constantly reevaluated and mitigation efforts would be lifted “as soon as possible.”
The announcement follows Wolf’s decision to close all public schools for two weeks.
Wolf said that compliance with the shutdown was voluntary, but also emphasized that medical experts said this was the only way to not have hospitals overwhelmed with patients.
Restaurants will also close except for delivery and takeout.
Nearby states like New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland and Delaware imposed similar restrictions in their states.
As of Monday, there are nine confirmed cases of the virus in Philadelphia, with that number expected to grow. There are at least 65 confirmed cases of the virus in the commonwealth.
Philadelphians looking for the latest local information on the coronavirus can visit phila.gov/COVID-19 or text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates.
