From kyw1060 (https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philly-cancels-large-events-for-6-months-for-covid-19-risks)

PAT LOEB

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has formally announced the city’s decision to prohibit all large outdoor events until at least Feb. 28, ending speculation about whether traditional events from the marathon to the Mummers Parade would be held in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. They won’t.

The city's COVID-19 numbers have fluctuated in the last few weeks — sometimes rising slightly, sometimes stabilizing. What they haven't been doing is going down, and with cases rising sharply in other places, large events that would attract out-of-towners are seen as too risky.

Kenney said he’s disappointed and he knows Philadelphia residents must be too.

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“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, there will be many difficult decisions to come. The health of Philadelphia residents, workers and visitors must be our top priority,” he said.

While it means the cancellation of events from parades to block parties, the moratorium does not apply to First Amendment-protected gatherings, such as the demonstrations for social justice, that still fill city streets almost daily. 

This will also not apply to private outdoor events with fewer than 50 guests, such as weddings and family picnics; to recreational sports with fewer than 25 participants; or events on private property, including performance venues and stadiums.

This is an extension of the ban that began in March, which forced the cancellation of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Since then, officials have been making decisions about large events one at a time, in hopes of an improvement that might allow them to resume.

It's not clear what convinced them that improvement is not coming before 2021. 

Some virus experts have said large events will not be safe until there's a vaccine. Philadelphia's health commissioner has said he's optimistic there will be a vaccine in 2021, maybe even early 2021.

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