No music in Philadelphia before March 2021

The state of Pennsylvania has recorded 101,000 cases of COVID-19, with almost 7,000 dead.

(Reuters) – Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney on Tuesday announced a moratorium on most large public events in the city through Feb. 28, 2021, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“I know this news will be disappointing for many Philadelphians, it was not an easy decision to make,” Kenney told a news conference. “But as we continue to battle COVID-19 and try to restore some sense of normalcy in our city, we know there will be many difficult decisions to come.”

The mayor said the moratorium will apply to events of 50 people or more on public property, including but not limited to festivals, parades, concerts, carnivals, fairs and flea markets.

UPDATE from the Philadelphia Orchestra: I wanted to clarify that this does not affect the activities of The Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts or at other privately-operated venues in which the Orchestra regularly performs. We will be announcing the Orchestra’s plans for the fall on August 17, 2020.