No Timeline For Philly Area Reopening, Top Health Official Says

HARRISBURG, PA — When will the Philadelphia region begin to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic?

The answer to that question, which is looming in most area residents' minds, is not known.

During a news conference Monday, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said there is currently no timeline for when Philadelphia and its collar counties will be able to reopen. Some regions, particularly in the north central and northwest portion of the state, will begin the first steps towards reopening on May 8.

The reopening is part of a three-phased plan announced last week by Gov. Tom Wolf.

"I don't have an estimate," Levine said when probed about offering some sort of timeline for the Philadelphia region's reopening. She echoed statements from Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force: "The virus determines the timeline."

"We don't know when Philadelphia will be able to go to yellow, we don't know when the collar counties will, but it's very important to have hope for the future and we will get there," Levine said.

Regions will be selected for reopening based on the number of new cases, as well as availability and prevalence of testing and contact tracing.

A target goal for reopening has been set at having fewer than 50 new confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the previous 14 days. An area with a population of 800,000 people would need to have fewer than 400 new confirmed cases reported in the past 14 days to meet the target, according to an example from the state.

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However, Levine stressed that the number of new cases in a region is just one of many factors that will be considered as Pennsylvania charts its way forward. "This is just one piece of the puzzle and there are many other pieces of the puzzle that will be considered," she said.

Also Monday, Gov. Wolf announced golf courses, marinas, guided fishing trips, and privately owned campgrounds may reopen statewide on May 1, provided they adhere to life-sustaining business guidance.

Campgrounds in state parks will remain closed through May 14.

During the news conference, Levine said Pennsylvania reported 885 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the statewide total to 42,050 cases. The state is reporting 1,597 deaths as of Monday. So far, all deaths have been in adult patients.

Of the cases in Pennsylvania, 2,394 are in health care workers and 7,037 are associated with long-term care living facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes.

Levine said 40 percent of the state's I.C.U. beds and 70 percent of its ventilators remain available.