Philadelphia Officials Order Closure Of All Nonessential Businesses To Combat Spread Of COVID-19

Matt Petrillo reports.

AND IN DELAWARE THERE AREEIGHT CASES ALL IN NEW CASTLECOUNTY.WE ARE NOW AN HOUR IN THECLOSURE OF ALL NONESSENTIALBUSINESSES IN PHILADELPHIA.THAT IS ORDER CITY OFFICIALSMADE AT CITY HALL THISAFTERNOON."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO IN RITTENHOUSESQUARE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT ITALL MEANS, MATT.PHILADELPHIA CITY LEADERSCALLED THE CLOSING OFNONESSENTIAL BUSINESSESUNPRECEDENTED.IT WILL NOW BE AT LEAST ACOUPLE WEEKS BEFORE CUSTOMERSCAN GO AND DINE IN RESTAURANTSLIKE HERE IN RITTENHOUSE.IT KIND HAVE LIKE STARTLEDUS TO THINK THAT THIS SERIOUS.REPORTER: THESE TWO FRIENDSWENT TO PARK IN WRIT EVEN WHOUS TO GRAB ONE LAST DRINK,BITE TO EAT, NOW THAT ALLDINING RESTAURANTS INPHILADELPHIA WILL BE CLOSEDFOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWOWEEKS.EVERYBODY SHUTTING DOWNAROUND US.IT IS JUST SO SAD TO SEE.REPORTER: TAKE OUT, DELIVERFRIDAY RESTAURANTS WILL BEAVAILABLE AND THERE ARE MANYBUSINESSES, DEEMED ESSENTIALTHAT WILL STAY OPENED,INCLUDING SUPER MARKETS,PHARMACIES, DAY CARE CENTERS,BANKS AND POST OFFICES.THERE IS NO PLAY BOOK WITHTHIS SITUATION AND HOPEFULLYWHAT WE WILL SEE BECAUSE OFTHE MEASURES IS A FLATTENINGOF THE CURVE AND CALMING DOWNOF THE SITUATION AND WE WILLGET AS LONG AS WE CAN.REPORTER: BUT NONESSENTIALCITY SERVICES IN PHILADELPHIAWILL ALSO SHUT DOWN STARTINGWEDNESDAY.INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEADSARE CURRENTLY DETERMINING WHATOPERATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL.REPORTER: HEALTH OFFICIALSBELIEVE THE CHANGE WILL HELPSTOP THE SPREAD OF THE COVID19.I DON'T THINK WE WILL HITWORST CASE SCENARIO.ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING IS TOPREVENT US FROM HIT AGO THISREPORTER: NO WORD ONEXACTLY JUST HOW MANYEMPLOYEES MIGHT BE LAID OFFHERE IN PHILADELPHIA BECAUSEOF THIS SHUT DOWN BUT CITYLEADERS TELL US THEY AREWORKING TO EASE THE FINANCIALBURDEN, MORE DETAILS ON THATARE EXPECT TO BE RELEASED INTHE COMING DAYS.