Health Officials Announce Evidence Of COVID-19 Community Spread In Philadelphia

Matt Petrillo reports.

CASES, 15 IN NEW CASTLECOUNTY, ONE IN SUSSEX COUNTY.NOW TO THE BATTLE AGAINSTCOVID 19 IN PHILADELPHIA.FOR THE FIRST TIME OFFICIALSANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE ISEVIDENCE OF THE COMMUNITYSPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN THECITY.MATT PETRILLO'S LIVE IN CENTERCITY WITH MORE INFORMATION ONTHIS, MATT.REPORTER: COMMUNITY SPREADIS WHEN SOMEONE BECOMES INFECTIN THE CERTAIN AREA BUTOFFICIALS ARE NOT SURE WHERETHAT PERSON WAS INFECTED.THEY HAD NO KNOWN CONTACT WITHSOMEONE ELSE WHO WAS INFECTED.I ASKED CITIES HEALTHCOMMISSIONER WHERE THATCOMMUNITY SPREAD IS, HE DIDN'TWANT TO SAY.THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHTHE CORONAVIRUS INPHILADELPHIA NEW STANDS AT 18.JUST ONE OF THEM IS BEINGTREATED IN THE HOSPITAL, THEOTHER IS IN SELF ISOLATION, ASHEALTH OFFICIALS HOPE TO RAMPUP TESTING.MESS OF THE TEST WILL BENEGATIVE.THAT IS OKAY.WE NEED TO TEST MANY NEGATIVESNERD TO FIND TWO POSITIVES OUTTHERE SO WE CAN HELP MAKE SURETHAT CHAIN OF INFECTIONS,STOPS.REPORTER: TODAY CITYOFFICIALS, ALSO REITERATEDNONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES SHOULDREMAIN CLOSED FOR AT LEAST THENEXT TWO WEEKS.WE RECOGNIZE HUGEDISRUPTION THAT THESE CLOSURESAND THIS CRISIS IS HAVING ONOUR SMALL BUSINESSES ANDWORKERS.REPORTER: CENTER CITY ISUSUALLY BUSTLING WITH PEOPLEBUT NOW LOOKS LIKE A GHOSTTOWN.MANY RESTAURANTS, RETAIL SHOPSHAVE SIGNS THAT READ WE ARECLOSED.MARRIOTT ON MARK STREIT ISOPEN.ITS PENNSYLVANIA'S BIGGESTHOTEL WITH MORE THAN 1400ROOMS.BUT HOTEL UNION OFFICIALS SAYONLY A FEW DOZEN CUSTOMERS ARESTAYING THERE.I FEEL VERY HELPLESS.REPORTER: KATHY PAIN WORKAT A HOUSEKEEPER AND AMONGSEVERAL THOUSAND HOTEL STAFFFROM ACROSS THE CITY HOFF BEENLAID OFF IN RECENT DAYS.TO NOT HAVE THAT MONEY,WOW, IT IS LIKE WHAT DO YOUDO.WHAT I TOLD MY DAUGHTER IS WEWILL RATION OUT THE FOOD.REPORTER: AT PHILADELPHIAINTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ATHOUSAND WORKERS WHO AREEMPLOYED IN FOOD AND RETAILSTORES THERE ARE FURLOUGHED.SO ARE ANOTHER 30,000EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AT THESTADIUMS.