We are approximately one year into the pandemic. In Philadelphia, vaccines are being administered, testing has become more available, and Covid-19 community spread percentages have decreased. 

Philadelphia is currently towards the end of phase 1A of the vaccine distribution process. This phase includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. A total of 186,065 first and 92,011 second doses have been administered to those eligible. Phase 1B follows phase 1A and it includes those who are 75 years and older, non-healthcare frontline personnel, and essential workers.

Teachers are now being vaccinated. Some have gotten their first or even second doses recently. According to Nurse Kelly, “There are various ways that we’re operating vaccines. Some staff have already gotten their second dose.” 

Friends Select is collaborating with an independent pharmacy similar to an annual flu clinic. Others were able to be vaccinated via the Black Doctors Consortium or the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It was a little nail-biting, but we’re starting to make progress,” says Kelly. She believes that most adults won’t be able to receive their second dose until after spring break. 

Friends Select has had a total of five cases within the school building since September, four from the faculty and staff and one from the high school student body. “The numbers indicate that we can say yes, our safety precautions are sufficient. I’m proud of that.” Regarding what the community needs to do to keep case numbers low, Kelly continues, “What we expect internally needs to be carried outside of school—we need to maintain our precautions wherever we go.” There have been no known internal transmissions of Covid-19 between students at Friends Select.

Nurse Kelly believes that “Testing is readily available.” For those under 18, CHOP has been a critical testing site. One must visit an online portal to make an appointment and results can be received within hours for the PCR test. Many urgent care clinics like Vybe are supplying tests to those who need them. 

According to the City of Philadelphia website, there have been a total of 118K (as of 3/2) cases in Philadelphia County and the rate of infection is decreasing.

Pennsylvania is currently in the green phase, but Philadelphia has some additional guidelines. As of March 1st, indoor event capacity has been increased to 15% of maximum occupancy and outdoor capacity has been increased to 20%. Certain out-of-state travel restrictions have also been eliminated, including removing the 14-day quarantine and testing requirements for travelers. 

According to Nurse Kelly, with recent community numbers in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, increased vaccination rates, and current FSS case numbers with sentinel testing, “we probably don’t need to continue in-school testing after spring break.” 

The Pfizer-Biotech vaccine is currently approved for those 16 years and older, but it is likely those eligible still won’t be able to receive the vaccine until summer. Friends Select is aiming for 85% of the community to be vaccinated (therefore reaching herd immunity) before protocols change. “Hopefully by next September, we can open with some kind of normalcy”, says Nurse Kelly.