All front-line health-care workers know they’re at risk. Their concern: How much of that risk is avoidable?Two weeks ago, as a surge of COVID-19 cases loomed, nurse Dawn Kulach worried that she didn’t have the gear she needed to stay healthy and on the job during the worst pandemic in a century.Wary of running out of N95 masks, Virtua Health System was limiting them to workers at its five South Jersey hospitals who were dealing with COVID-19-positive or suspected patients.Knowing that people without symptoms can carry the easily spread virus, Kulach, a medical surgical nurse, asked for...…All front-line health-care workers know they’re at risk. Their concern: How much of that risk is avoidable?Two weeks ago, as a surge of COVID-19 cases loomed, nurse Dawn Kulach worried that she didn’t have the gear she needed to stay healthy and on the job during the worst pandemic in a century.Wary of running out of N95 masks, Virtua Health System was limiting them to workers at its five South Jersey hospitals who were dealing with COVID-19-positive or suspected patients.Knowing that people without symptoms can carry the easily spread virus, Kulach, a medical surgical nurse, asked for...WW…

The outrage, violence looting and vandalism that shattered Center City on Saturday waited a day to spread to West Philly. This time, though, the damage came to a business corridor that serves a predominantly black neighborhood, one that had been in the midst of finding its footing.Tear gas wafted through her neighborhood and helicopter rotors roared overhead as Pamela Blanding-Godbolt waited anxiously Sunday for her daughter to come home.» LATEST: “I’m on pins and needles for her,” said Blanding-Godbolt, who lives on Lindenwood Street, about a block away from 52nd Street, one of the centers...…The outrage, violence looting and vandalism that shattered Center City on Saturday waited a day to spread to West Philly. This time, though, the damage came to a business corridor that serves a predominantly black neighborhood, one that had been in the midst of finding its footing.Tear gas wafted through her neighborhood and helicopter rotors roared overhead as Pamela Blanding-Godbolt waited anxiously Sunday for her daughter to come home.» LATEST: “I’m on pins and needles for her,” said Blanding-Godbolt, who lives on Lindenwood Street, about a block away from 52nd Street, one of the centers...WW…

Even as the city holds firm with its mask mandates, Philadelphians are making their own decisions about whether to mask or not.White and pink pastel blossoms frosted the trees beneath a blue sky Tuesday afternoon in Old City, the kind of spring day that makes long sleeves optional. For many, though, masks were not.“I do it because it’s the right thing to do,” said Ellen Stroman, as she walked by the colonial columns of the Shambles near Second and Pine Streets with her husband, their daughter, and dog.There is ample evidence that masks help prevent COVID-19′s spread, and their value...…Even as the city holds firm with its mask mandates, Philadelphians are making their own decisions about whether to mask or not.White and pink pastel blossoms frosted the trees beneath a blue sky Tuesday afternoon in Old City, the kind of spring day that makes long sleeves optional. For many, though, masks were not.“I do it because it’s the right thing to do,” said Ellen Stroman, as she walked by the colonial columns of the Shambles near Second and Pine Streets with her husband, their daughter, and dog.There is ample evidence that masks help prevent COVID-19′s spread, and their value...WW…

The city’s outreach efforts are getting a significant boost in the coming month.Given the opportunity to register for a COVID-19 vaccination from his front porch, Jeff Harris, 65, didn’t hesitate.“If you don’t get it, you die,” he said.Harris, who lives with his 90-year-old mother, is eager to be vaccinated. He’s mostly stayed home during the pandemic, he said, and even tries to avoid going to the grocery store.But until Monday, when community activists came to his door, he didn’t know how to sign up.“Most people don’t have no internet,” Harris said of his Hunting Park neighbors. “They just...…The city’s outreach efforts are getting a significant boost in the coming month.Given the opportunity to register for a COVID-19 vaccination from his front porch, Jeff Harris, 65, didn’t hesitate.“If you don’t get it, you die,” he said.Harris, who lives with his 90-year-old mother, is eager to be vaccinated. He’s mostly stayed home during the pandemic, he said, and even tries to avoid going to the grocery store.But until Monday, when community activists came to his door, he didn’t know how to sign up.“Most people don’t have no internet,” Harris said of his Hunting Park neighbors. “They just...WW…

With public health experts responding on the fly to a once-in-a-century pandemic, the person behind a much-criticized vaccination registration software said everything won’t go smoothly.The software design that allowed hundreds of people who weren’t eligible to get vaccination appointments at FEMA’s mass clinic in Philadelphia this week wasn’t a glitch, said the woman who founded the company behind the technology.Far from it; the design was entirely intentional.Tiffany Tate, CEO of Maryland Partnership for Prevention, said the shareable computer links that have been such a problem at...…With public health experts responding on the fly to a once-in-a-century pandemic, the person behind a much-criticized vaccination registration software said everything won’t go smoothly.The software design that allowed hundreds of people who weren’t eligible to get vaccination appointments at FEMA’s mass clinic in Philadelphia this week wasn’t a glitch, said the woman who founded the company behind the technology.Far from it; the design was entirely intentional.Tiffany Tate, CEO of Maryland Partnership for Prevention, said the shareable computer links that have been such a problem at...WW…

The city has had to cull more than 1.000 appointments from its system in the past few days because of a software problem that allows people ineligible for vaccination to get shots.A change in Philadelphia’s vaccine registration system should allow only people who are eligible for shots to register for COVID-19 inoculation through the city, closing a loophole that has allowed an untold number of people to get appointments improperly.The fix comes as city health department staff canceled about 1,400 appointments from Sunday to Tuesday made by people who shouldn’t be receiving shots in...…The city has had to cull more than 1.000 appointments from its system in the past few days because of a software problem that allows people ineligible for vaccination to get shots.A change in Philadelphia’s vaccine registration system should allow only people who are eligible for shots to register for COVID-19 inoculation through the city, closing a loophole that has allowed an untold number of people to get appointments improperly.The fix comes as city health department staff canceled about 1,400 appointments from Sunday to Tuesday made by people who shouldn’t be receiving shots in...WW…

An immigrant advocacy group and Jefferson University Hospitals are prepared to start providing doses in a community without easy vaccine access, but are waiting for city approval.From Broad Street to the Delaware River, a swath of densely populated South Philadelphia neighborhoods has no easy access to desperately needed COVID-19 vaccines.“We’ve got old people from South Philly trying to fudge their addresses so they can go to other states and other parts of this state so they can get vaccinated,” said Joseph F. Marino, president of the advisory council at East Passyunk Community Center. He...…An immigrant advocacy group and Jefferson University Hospitals are prepared to start providing doses in a community without easy vaccine access, but are waiting for city approval.From Broad Street to the Delaware River, a swath of densely populated South Philadelphia neighborhoods has no easy access to desperately needed COVID-19 vaccines.“We’ve got old people from South Philly trying to fudge their addresses so they can go to other states and other parts of this state so they can get vaccinated,” said Joseph F. Marino, president of the advisory council at East Passyunk Community Center. He...WW…

Canceling hundreds of appointments made by people who shouldn't yet be vaccinated became a major time investment on the first day of a federal mass vaccination site in Philadelphia.The federal vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is contending with a flood of illegitimate vaccination appointments even before its official opening on Wednesday.A private online link solely for some essential workers who met eligibility requirements was spread to an untold number of other people who had no trouble using it to sign up for vaccination at the clinic, which is being run in...…Canceling hundreds of appointments made by people who shouldn't yet be vaccinated became a major time investment on the first day of a federal mass vaccination site in Philadelphia.The federal vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is contending with a flood of illegitimate vaccination appointments even before its official opening on Wednesday.A private online link solely for some essential workers who met eligibility requirements was spread to an untold number of other people who had no trouble using it to sign up for vaccination at the clinic, which is being run in...WW…

As Philadelphia seeks to recover from the debacle of allowing a group of college students to run a major vaccination initiative, independent pharmacy owners are asking why they’ve been left out.Around Christmas, Ben Nachum applied to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to offer COVID-19 vaccine doses at his North Philadelphia pharmacy.More than a month later, he has yet to hear back. In mid-January, he submitted his information into the state’s application process but hasn’t heard from them either.”There are five pharmacies around me,” said Nachum, owner of Patriot Pharmacy. “We...…As Philadelphia seeks to recover from the debacle of allowing a group of college students to run a major vaccination initiative, independent pharmacy owners are asking why they’ve been left out.Around Christmas, Ben Nachum applied to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to offer COVID-19 vaccine doses at his North Philadelphia pharmacy.More than a month later, he has yet to hear back. In mid-January, he submitted his information into the state’s application process but hasn’t heard from them either.”There are five pharmacies around me,” said Nachum, owner of Patriot Pharmacy. “We...WW…

The city’s vaccination plan calls for people 75 and older and anyone with high-risk medical conditions to be inoculated next. Pennsylvania may vaccinate people 65 and older in its next phase.Essential workers and people 75 and older in Philadelphia could begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine later this month, city officials announced Tuesday, releasing guidelines that provided the first clear information for hundreds of thousands of residents — from teachers to public transit drivers to grocery clerks — about when they might get the long-awaited shots.The city’s second stage of vaccine...…The city’s vaccination plan calls for people 75 and older and anyone with high-risk medical conditions to be inoculated next. Pennsylvania may vaccinate people 65 and older in its next phase.Essential workers and people 75 and older in Philadelphia could begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine later this month, city officials announced Tuesday, releasing guidelines that provided the first clear information for hundreds of thousands of residents — from teachers to public transit drivers to grocery clerks — about when they might get the long-awaited shots.The city’s second stage of vaccine...WW…