LMBC NEWS – With the aim to curb the spread of Covid-19, the city of Philadelphia will prohibit special events or public gatherings of 50 or more people on public property through February 28, 2021.

In a news release Tuesday, the city has announced that its Office of Special Events will not accept, review, process, or approve applications, issue permits, or enter into agreements for the said events and gatherings.

“The City may further extend this timeline based on feedback from public health experts. Any pending applications will not be further reviewed, processed or approved,” it said.

The moratorium covers special events and public gatherings that include festivals, parades, concerts, carnivals, fairs, and flea markets.

It does not apply, however, to demonstrations and First Amendment-protected activities; outdoor gatherings that are not publicly advertised; outdoor group recreational and sports activities for youth and adults with less than 25 participants; and events and gatherings taking place on private property, including performance venues and stadiums.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, in a press conference aired at a local TV, has also confirmed the event prohibitions.

“I know this news will be disappointing for many Philadelphians, it was not an easy decision to make. But as we continue to battle COVID-19 and try to restore some sense of normalcy in our city, we know there will be many difficult decisions to come,” he said.

Based on Tuesday’s data of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, there were 148 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 that brings the total cases to 27,723.

Six additional fatalities were further recorded, lifting the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 1,637. (Gail Momblan)