Home Health Is It Time For a Citywide Vaccine Mandate? Going for two years straight now, nurses, and others are now dealing with burgeoning admissions affecting quality and availability of care, including here in Philadelphia. The end of all COVID restrictions in Philadelphia could happen in weeks. Why not gyms like Boston? This isnt a gray area, its a clear double standard that quite literally endangers lives. Bettigole says there has also been a substantial increase in the number of Philadelphians who have gotten vaccinated, which has helped get us to this point. Because of safety concerns, the city will not be handing out cash, but distributing the funds through mobile apps or a physical gift card by mail. RELATED: Since New York required vaccines for city employees, shots surged 40 percent. To me, the solution is simple. In New Jersey, the school mask mandate will end March 7, Gov. Answers to your latest pandemic questions. COVID mask mandate staying in Philadelphia as N.J., Delaware, other Philadelphia drops indoor dining vaccine mandate, sets benchmark to Its the Health Departments goal that everyone in Philadelphia be vaccinated against COVID. We could require library cardholders to be vaccinated to maintain their library cards. According to the tiers, the city would need to get under 100 cases per day on average, and under a 2% positivity rate in order to reach All Clear. By protecting them, we protect our most vulnerable as well. Does It Matter That Cherelle Parker Once Went To Jail? A: We are implementing mandates based on who is most at risk and who is most likely to spread COVID-19. The city reached an agreement Friday with AFSCME District Council 47, which represents white-collar employees such as administrative assistants and lower-level supervisors. A: On August 25, 2021, the Division of Disease Control issued a Health Alert message that described the new mandate, who it applies to, how it is to be implemented, and several questions pertinent to this population. City employee vaccine rates of employees fully vaccinated by departments as of Tuesday, January 11, 2022 are available online. The City of Philadelphia announced that starting January 3, 2022, it will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for admission to indoor restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues serving fo Now we have another opportunity to demonstrate that agility. City health officials said a tiered system will be used to spell out potential future COVID-19 mandates in case of new variants that could cause cases to climb. The radicals over at the ACLU will provide anti-vaxxers no comfort. Under the new system, health officials would turn their focus to four key metrics: COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, test positivity rates, and the rate of increase in cases. Phil Murphy set adeadline for masks-wearing in public schools. I wont, either, beyond saying its entirely appropriate to question the basis of Health Department actions and guidance.). Q: NYC and other jurisdictions have implemented a vaccine mandate for restaurants, bars, and other indoor entertainment venues. Philadelphia's vaccine mandate for indoor dining could end this week, according to sources familiar with new rules outlining the process coming as soon as Wednesday from the city health department. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Health Care Vaccine Mandate Remains as Some Push for an End - US News Philadelphia's new COVID-19 safety standards could end indoor dining The downside is criticism, maybe, and probably a legal case. Philadelphia COVID-19 vaccine indoor dining now in effect - what you Its important that we do everything we can to cut that infection rate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. However, businesses can still require proof of vaccination for employees and guests if they choose to. And our City solicitor is happy to fight anyone in court who claims theyre a sovereign citizen and the wage tax doesnt apply to them. Every employer, as in New York City Due to this and based on pending agreements and discussions with the City's unions, the vaccine mandate deadline for employees has been adjusted to Monday January 24, 2022. What the End of COVID-19 Emergency Declarations Means for Employers By signing up for a basic membership, we agree to never give or sell your information to any third party. Terry Gross hosts this multi-award-winning daily interview and features program. CHANCES was an outpatient substance use treatment program in Philly. Is it time for the same here, too? How Philly's indoor dining COVID vaccine mandate will work By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You agree to receive our weekly e-news roundup, invitations to exclusive events, including our Citizen Speaks series, and occasional breaking news updates. In November, the city announced that all municipal employees and contractors, including union workers, would have to be vaccinated by Jan. 14. Amended Up-to-date COVID-19 Vaccine Status Definition: Advisory Jun 6, 2022: . Providers can find more information about COVID-19 on the Health Information Portals novel coronavirus page. "We know that local rules to fit the local conditions are the best way to protect the communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the pandemic. The city's new vaccine mandate, which begins Jan. 3, echoes . Whether the mayor doesnt have the stomach to fight for more draconian and effective approaches or cant handle the shrill criticism of people online who never supported him in the first place, or whether he genuinely believes his decisions are rooted entirely in science, isnt clear. Under the new rules, you no longer have to show proof of vaccination at every restaurant, hotel, bowling alley, or sports center in Philadelphia. I want us to do something more both for the public good and also because if we dont, what happened to me will keep happening. Omicron may cause milder disease but the sheer number of patients make this wave far worse for the health care system. How the pulse oximeter became infamous on TikTok. As vaccines continue to be the best way to protect Philadelphians and save lives, were proud that nearly 22,000 City employees have gotten vaccinated and at least another 1,300 have an approved exemption to the vaccination mandate for City employeesrepresenting nearly 81 percent of all City employees, said Mayor Jim Kenney. Its how we live. AFSCME District Council 33, which represents blue-collar employees such as sanitation workers and recreation center personnel, was the first union to agree to the mandate earlier this month. Philadelphia to require patrons of food establishments be fully The Boards Regulation will ensure that our heroes, our most vulnerable, and our future are protected. Were always working to improve phila.gov. The City of Philadelphia has rolled back a mandate requiring people to be vaccinated to dine indoors. An official website of the City of Philadelphia government, City Releases Update Regarding Implementation of Workforce Vaccine Mandate. And that pretty please, combined with other social distancing measures, nearly eliminated flu deaths last year. Weve seen time and time again this extraordinary virus only responds to extraordinary measures. Please enter valid email address to continue. Because of safety. According to Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole, the absence of governmental restriction doesnt mean that people shouldnt still use their common sense.. Employees have through and including January 24, 2022 to comply with the Citys vaccination mandate. Phil Murphy said Monday. Philadelphia health officials on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 response levels that will now tie the citys mask and vaccine mandates to specific metrics. Incentive for Vaccination "When the vaccine mandate was announced, we were in the midst of the omicron wave and only 27.5% of Philadelphia's children ages 5 to 11 had had a first dose of the COVID . WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. This showed the vaccines did not prevent transmission, which, he argued, ought to be the legal basis for any vaccine mandate. In part to grapple with this anticipated reality, last month Mayor Kenney announced a vaccine mandate for all diners at any venues serving food. What is public service minded about endangering, in their hour of need, South Philly nanas and people in West Philly with compromised immune systems or children in Fox Chase with asthma? The mandate does not apply to masked individuals entering an establishment for less than 15 minutes to pick up food or use the restroom. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. Read more about Philadelphias COVID-19 policies. The Citys approach has always been aimed at instituting the least restrictive rules that allow us to keep people safe from Covid-19, he added. Then again, we could just go straight to what we keep tap dancing around: Just require everyone to be vaccinated. The vaccine mandate for Philadelphia city employees keeps getting delayed due to labor disputes The city's four major unions each sought separate agreements with the administration over how the vaccine mandate would be managed, delaying its implementation until the labor disputes are resolved. Exclusive: Who Won The First Independent Poll of the Philly Mayors Race? We also commend those employees whove taken the first steps to getting vaccinated receiving at least one dose of the vaccine by today., Flooded with omicron patients, ERs struggle to treat other urgent problems. A two-week grace period in which customers could show a negative COVID-19 test has ended. Employees who receive a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Thursday, June 30, 2022 must complete their vaccination series within 14 days of the schedule prescribed for the vaccine they received. That's according to the system laid out by the Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole on Feb. 16, and it means there are no vaccine or testing requirements for dining establishments, and no masking. The latest news and updates about the COVID-19 vaccine rollouts in our region. One of the conditions in the Citys agreements with DC 33 and DC 47 is that any eventual deal with the other labor unions that includes more favorable terms must automatically be extended to their membersincluding any extension to the January 14 deadline (to either get a first dose of vaccine or submit an exemption request). All staff, students, and faculty at colleges and universities in the city will also be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a religious or medical exemption. All members agree to receive our weekly newsletter, members-only communications, invitations to exclusive events and occasional breaking news updates. Heres a list of where you still need a mask in Philly. Philadelphia has lifted some COVID-19 restrictions. Here's what to know If cases continue to drop, the mandate will be lifted for schools, though students and staff will be required to wear masks after spring break so theres no increase in cases. Fewer lives lost. But for many that comes at a cost. Like what youre reading? Dec 13, 2021. No mask requirement (except in schools, healthcare institutions, congregate settings, and on public transportation. How will penalization be handled? Proof of vaccination or negative test within 24 hours (acceptable tests include lab or onsite testing, not home tests) for places that serve food or drink. Some businesses say that the vaccine mandate hurt their bottom lines. Philadelphia vaccine mandate. Philadelphia vaccine mandate for indoor dining ends - Inquirer.com Following the science implies coherence, rationality, and a lack of politics. Vaccination rates in Philadelphia are the lowest in our younger folks and coincidentally, those are the folks with the highest rates of COVID infection these days. City Releases Update on its Workforce Vaccine Mandate Masks will be required beginning Monday, April 18 after a one-week education period. People who arent vaccinated are getting much sickeror dying. "They're going have some type of certainty moving forward," Fileccia said. Meanwhile, the union posted on Instagram cheering their win and then four days later, rather ghoulishly and unironically, posted a memorial remembrance to an officer who was one of the first locally to die of Covid-19 in November 2020 before vaccines were available. Starting this week, at Philadelphia Department of Public Health Community Clinics, Philadelphians who complete their primary COVID-19 vaccine series will receive $100. The mandate, announced . Where is the public condemnation or daily expressed disapproval from the mayor toward the FOPs erratic selfishness? Duane Morris investigation into Central Bucks finds no discrimination against LGBTQ students, Shapiro signs first bill, expands Pa. health insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings, 3 unions at Rutgers University have reached tentative agreements. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor Philadelphia Announces January 2022 Vaccination Mandate Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. For people who cannot be vaccinated or who are not fully vaccinated yet, double-masking can reduce their chances of being infected almost as well as an N-95 mask but does nothing to reduce the severity of the disease if they are infected. / CBS Philadelphia. While we may need to move to additional mandates or other strategies, we believe that the mandates announced this week are a logical next step. A: Yes they are, but the contracting agencies will be responsible for maintaining vaccination and testing records. Colleges and universities will be required to offer one or more of these accommodations to those with exemption: Q: In healthcare settings, do hospital gift shop workers or cafeteria staff who may be in contact with a patient but who arent strictly healthcare workers need to be vaccinated? The only remaining COVID mandate in Philadelphia is for masks to be worn inside. Philadelphia ends vaccine mandate for restaurants and entertainment businesses. That decision was about smallpox and is 116 years old, but its the established law of the land that local Health departments can compel residents to vaccinate. from the Guardians Today in Focus podcast. Yes, there were hecklers. But how free is it for people with compromised immune systems to be under threat for riding the bus, or for a doctor or nurse to never see their kids? February 16, 2022 / 5:00 PM As interest arbitration proceedings continue for certain uniformed employees, the implementation date may be subject to future adjustment. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Q: Are contractors on college and university campuses covered by these mandates? We will never give or sell your information to a third party outside of this partner program. How will you keep them safe? The vaccine mandate for Philadelphia city employees keeps getting PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With COVID-19 cases dropping in Philadelphia, the city announced Wednesday it's easing restrictions, including lifting the vaccine mandate to eat inside restaurants. The other benchmarks include hospitalizations under 50, and cases not rising by more than 50% in the previous 10 days. A: Healthcare workers with an exemption will be required to have a PCR test or an antigen test twice per week. Q: Is wearing two masks as effective as being vaccinated? How to advocate for yourself as a patient. The key is on-site consumption: if a shoe store sold hot dogs, that area must be cordoned off and peoples vaccine status must be verified, Im told. Philadelphia is also starting a new six-week incentive program to get more people vaccinated. When the police union objected to the City worker vaccine mandate, the case went to arbitration as outlined in the contract with the FOP, where the City lost. Stay updated on all our coverage. All rights reserved. If feasible, colleges and universities may choose to offer those with exemptions a virtual option as their accommodation. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Extreme Caution: Proof of vaccination required for places that serve food or drink; masks required in indoor public places, Caution: Proof of vaccination or negative test within 24 hours for places that serve food or drink; masks required in indoor public places, Mask Precautions: No vaccine requirement for places that serve food or drink; masks required in indoor public places, All Clear: No vaccine requirement for places that serve food or drink; No mask requirement (except in schools, healthcare institutions, congregate settings, and on public transportation), Philadelphia mandates: What you need to know about COVID-19 response levels, metrics, deadline for masks-wearing in public schools, Man fitting description of mass shooting gunman seen in Montgomery County, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District files lawsuit against Disney in ongoing feud, 2 persons of interest sought in Lawncrest quadruple shooting that left 3 teens dead, 1 injured: police, Treasurer of a Bensalem education association arrested for embezzling over $25K, authorities say, Bride in golf cart killed by speeding drunk driver, police say. The largest city in Pennsylvania said the mandate will apply to the following. Q: Where can healthcare providers learn more about the Citys vaccine mandate? Yes. Indoor masking requirements will remain in place until those metrics further improve, and the city reaches the All Clear tier. saying it takes the burden off them to keep people safe. But it is worth noting that usually people call 911 on a bad day amid a dangerous situation. I reached out to a couple lawyers about it. A residential mandate would indeed get howls from some people. The City expects a full award from the interest arbitration panel governing the FOP contract to be handed down in the next two weeks. In this agreement, you accept communications from partners which may include newsletters, exclusive event invites, discount codes and emails containing other Super Citizen Member perks. Under law and Supreme Court precedent, including Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), Kenney appears to be within his authority to require everyone living in Philadelphia eligible for vaccination to get their shots. While the City issued a vaccination mandate for all employeesthose represented by unions and those unrepresented (exempt)it is important to understand that legally the City must negotiate the impact of this new requirement with its labor union partners: the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), AFSCME District Council 33 (DC 33), AFSCME District Council 47 (DC 47), and Local 22 (Firefighters) before it officially goes into effect for employees represented by those unions. Public File for KYW-TV / CBS Philadelphia. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Copyright 2023 The Philadelphia Citizen. The system is also a win for hotels and conference venues, according to Fileccia. Philadelphia's H1N1 Vaccine Program: Advisory Sep 3, 2009: CDC Letter: Shortage of Erythromycin (0.5%) Ophthalmic Ointment . That doesnt mean you should stop taking preventive measures. A: Being fully vaccinated can reduce your risk of being infected eight-fold and reduce your chances of hospitalization by 25-fold. We could distribute N95s together with food from hunger relief organizations. So, its a good idea to call before you go. A member of the Philadelphia Fire Department administers the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to a person at a vaccination site setup at a Salvation Army location in Philadelphia, Friday, March 26, 2021. Following the science implies coherence, rationality, and a lack of politics. Reach out to Mayor Kenney and let him knowspecificallywhat you think would help keep Philadelphians safe.