PHILADELPHIA – The City announced Tuesday the first fatality among inmates in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). This death is not counted in the count of death count because the Health Department was notified after the day’s count was closed for review. It will be reflected in Wednesday’s count. The City is reporting it now, separate from the total, in the interest of transparency.
The individual who succumbed was a woman in her 40s with underlying medical conditions. She had been transported to a hospital on April 8 and succumbed this morning. “I want to offer my condolences to her family and friends,” said the Mayor. “Incarcerated people are human beings. They are someone’s family member and friend. And we owe them the dignity of acknowledging their life and their passing.”
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health also announced 317 additional presumptive confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 7,130. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley cautions that not all laboratories reported totals today, so the daily count may be falsely low.
The Department of Public Health again noted clusters of positive cases in congregate settings, including nursing homes, behavioral health facilities, and the Department of Prisons. One additional inmate has tested positive. The current total of positive cases at correctional facilities is 54.
The Department of Public Health confirmed 16 additional fatalities in Philadelphia. This brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 206. Of the 206 total deaths,136 (66%) were of people over age 70, and 103 (50%) were long-term care facility residents.
The Department of Public Health reports 757 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 1,361 people hospitalized in the region (including Philadelphia).
The City is not releasing the name of the inmate out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The Mayor noted that the Department of Prisons has instituted procedures and protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus in the jails, working in concert with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. More information on PDP’s COVID-19 efforts can be found here.
Dr. Farley also added that resources are available for Philadelphians who smoke cigarettes, but are interested in quitting. Quitting now can help prevent serious complications from a COVID-19 infection. Resources are available to quit smoking at smokefreephilly.org or 1-800-QUIT NOW.
Deadline for the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund: The deadline for microenterprises to submit applications for funding from the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund is before midnight on Wednesday, April 15. The Relief Fund, which launched on March 23 and has $12.1 million to disburse to local businesses, has received over 6,000 applications seeking more than $82 million in aid. Information regarding other local and national resources for businesses can be found here.
Testing Sites: The City-run location in Center City continues to serve those who are over the age of 50 and are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as health care workers who are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus. The site is available by appointment only and a referral is required. Those who meet the criteria and want a test can call (267) 491-5870 to obtain a referral.
There are also more than 20 private testing sites across the city run by hospital systems and other organizations.
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