Philadelphia Officials Pleading With Residents To Continue Social Distancing

Natasha Brown reports.

TO REOPEN, BUT REITERATED THATTHE VIRUS DETERMINES THE TIMELINE.THIS AFTERNOON THE CITY OFPHILADELPHIA REPORTED NINEMORE COVID-19 DEATHS AND 347NEW CONFIRMED CASES.HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE PLEADINGWITH RESIDENTS TO CONTINUESOCIAL DISTANCING.NATASHA BROWN HAS THE UPDATE.Reporter: STERN WARNINGFROM PHILADELPHIA CITY LEADERSAND HEALTH OFFICIALS JUSTAHEAD OF THE COMING MEMORIALDAY WEEKENDS.DON'T GO TO THE BEACH.WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING PEOPLEGO TO THE BEACH THISWEEKENDED.THE BEING OUTDOORS IS PROBABLYLESS RISK OF PEOPLE INDOORS,BUT IF YOU GO INTO CROWDSANYWHERE THERE IS RISK.WITH NEW JERSEY ANDDELAWARE BEACHES NOW OPEN,CITY OFFICIALS URGINGPHILADELPHIANS TO STAY HOME,AND IN LIGHT OF THE ONGOINGCRIES OUTBREAK.PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE BEACHTHIS WEEKEND, CONGREGATE INPEOPLE TOO CLOSE VIN INCH TIP,DRIVER BACK TO PHILADELPHIAAND PERHAPS GIVE THE VIRUS TOSOMEBODY IN THEIR FAMILY.SO, I THINK THAT WE ARE BEINGRESPONSIBLE, WE SEE OUR CASECOUNTS GOING DOWN, WE SEE OURDEATHS GOING DOWN, AND WE'REGOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.WHY WOULD WE SCREW THAT UP?AS CITY OFFICIALS DOUBLEDOWN ON WARNINGS, INDUSTRIESIN THE CITY ARE SEEING THEBRUNT OF DRASTIC BUDGET CUTS,ANOTHER RIPPLE EFFECT THECOVID-19 CRISIS.WE SPOKE WITH SHARON OF THEGREATER PHILADELPHIA FILM BOSSPROPOSED CUTS FOR THAT OFFICE,EVEN AS MORE MOVIES ANDNETWORK SHOWS PLAN TO SHOOT INPHILADELPHIA.ON AVERAGE DAY, FOR ANYGIVEN NATURE PRODUCTION, LIKEFEATURE FILM OR TELEVISIONSERIES, IT WILL BE 250 PEOPLEA DAY.SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOUKNOW, A THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAYAND THAT'S JUST FOR THE BIGSHOWS.THIS IS A650 MILLION-DOLLAR PROBLEM.BACK IN 2008 AND 2009 IT WAS$108 MILLION PROBLEM.IT IS A $650 MILLION PROBLEM.AND EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVETO PULL TOGETHER AND GET USOUT OF THIS.AND I UNDERSTAND WHY EACHINDIVIDUAL SECTOR OR SEGMENTOF THE ECONOMY OR THE CITY HASTHEIR OWN INTEREST IN MIND ANDTHEIR OWN SPECIAL INTEREST.I APPRECIATE.THAT WILL I SYMPETHIZE.CITY COUNCILS SILL HOLDINGVIRTUAL BUDGET HEARINGS.FILM INDUSTRY CONTINUESECONOMIC BOOST TO THE CITY INHOPES OF STAYING VIE JOB WE'RENOT PART OF THE PROBLEM, WECREATE JOBS, ALTHOUGH JOBSCREATE REVENUE FOR IS THEEIGHTIES.