Covid
Philadelphia faces $450 million budget deficit after financial hardship caused by COVID-19
City officials projected that Philadelphia will soon only have enough money in its reserves to run the city for three days.
Penn studies find text message reminders increase vaccine uptake significantly
Although the studies focused on flu vaccines, lead author and Wharton professor Katy Milkman said the findings can be applied to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic gives doses to 4,000 Philadelphians from hardest-hit areas
The clinic was open to people in phase 1b of vaccine distribution who live in zip codes the organization identified as "hardest hit" by COVID-19, including zip code 19104 where Penn is located.
Philadelphia will likely not expand COVID-19 vaccine access until April
The city anticipates it may finish vaccinating residents by the end of July.
Penn hires Philadelphia residents to work as laboratory assistants to expand COVID-19 testing
Penn Medicine hired 50 new laboratory assistants through the University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative to strengthen testing capabilities and give nontraditional applicants access to STEM careers.
Penn shortens quarantine period by four days for students exposed to COVID-19
The decision comes after the University observed that the majority of students who have been exposed to COVID-19 end up testing positive on their 10th day in quarantine or before, if they test positive at all.
Penn will not enact campus-wide quarantine after ‘worrisome’ positivity rate subsides
Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé emphasized that while the University's lower positivity rate is encouraging news, it does not signify that community members can become complacent in adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
Gutmann criticizes Trump administration’s handling of COVID-19 at pandemic ethics event
Penn President Amy Gutmann discussed the ethical and practical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic at a virtual event on Thursday.
Penn Medicine and Black faith leaders lead COVID-19 vaccination clinic in West Philadelphia
Around 20% of Saturday's vaccines were reserved for those who lacked internet access to register online for an appointment.
Philadelphia restaurants can increase indoor dining capacity to 50%
Restaurants will have to follow new ventilation standards that require air to circulate 15 times per hour.
Students in isolation report inadequate resources and communication from Penn
Some students are reporting inadequate and confusing meal policies and violations of safety guidelines.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia partners with city to distribute vaccine to school staff
The vaccination effort will begin in late February and take place in pop-up clinics located in school buildings throughout Philadelphia.
Penn undergraduate weekly positivity rate reaches 4.47% as COVID-19 cases double
Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé said there is "no evidence of an out-of-control outbreak" on campus despite undergraduate cases increasing from 113 to 239 between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6
At least two Penn students have contracted B.1.1.7, a more contagious variant of COVID-19
The variant — a more contagious form of COVID-19 — was identified on campus after the two students tested positive and reported recent personal or familial travel from the United Kingdom.
Penn Nursing study finds negative mental health effects on children, teens during COVID-19
The paper, co-authored by four Nursing faculty members, follows the case studies of two children to explore how their mental health was impacted.
Villanova announces stay-at-home policy days after Penn threatens the same
Villanova students will not be permitted to leave their residences or interact with others outside of their household outside of instruction and essential purposes
Penn Wharton Budget Model predicts Biden relief package will increase GDP in 2021
The direct payments of $1,400, the expanded Child Tax Credit, and the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit will cost $595 billion this year, the PWBM found.
Penn scientists awarded grant to develop portable, odor-based COVID-19 detector
The rapid, handheld device that is more than 90% sensitive and specific for COVID-19.
Penn threatens campus-wide quarantine policy in light of ‘worrisome’ positivity rate
If trends do not reverse, the University will move to Campus Alert Level 3: Safer at Home on the University's four-level alert system as early as next week.