Philadelphia sees 522 more COVID-19 cases, 33 additional fatalities

PHILADELPHIA » The Philadelphia Department of Public Health Friday announced 522 additional presumptive confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 5,793. In addition, officials confirmed another 33 deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

The Health Department said the 33 additional fatalities brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 137. Sixty-seven (49%) of the 137 deaths were longterm care facility residents. Eighty-nine (65%) of the deaths were people over age 70.

The Department of Public Health reports 717 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 1,231 people hospitalized in the region (including Philadelphia).

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. Five additional inmates have tested positive, bringing the current total of positive cases at correctional facilities to

64.

Additional funding and closing date for the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund: The City and PIDC announced that the deadline for micro-businesses 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 with approximately $9.25 million, has received over 6,000 applications from businesses seeking more than $82 million in aid.

An additional $2.9 million has been secured for the Relief Fund, bringing the total to more than $12.1 million to disburse to local businesses impacted by COVID-19. The additional $2.9 million includes generous donations from the Knight Foundation, Citizens Bank, and PNC Bank, as well as repurposed funding from PIDC and the City. Up to 1,000 local businesses are expected to receive awards.

Information regarding other local and national resources for businesses can be found here. Businesses

are encouraged to apply for assistance from the new Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which aims to provide relief to millions of small businesses. Learn more about PPP and other federal programs, including how to apply.

Arts Funding: The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE), the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA), and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) announced the creation of COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL, a new emergency support fund focused on the arts and culture sector in the Philadelphia region. COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL will support individual artists as well as small arts and culture organizations (annual budgets no greater than $250,000) and midsized organizations (annual budgets of $250,000 $15 million) whose operations, work, and livelihood have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL launched with $3.45 million in support, led by a $2.5 million grant from the William Penn Foundation. A portal for online donations is now open at donate.artsaidphl.org.