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Amending Chapter 6-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Preventive Medicine,” by imposing duration limitations on emergency control measures, requiring Council approval of emergency control measures in certain circumstances, and to make technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 6-200 of The Philadelphia Code is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 6-200. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.
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§ 6-205. Emergency Epidemic Control.
(1) Where a communicable disease which constitutes a serious danger to health is spreading either in the City or in the communities surrounding the City, and threatens to reach epidemic proportions unless immediately controlled; where the danger thereof is such that the Board does not have time to list the said disease as quarantinable and issue regulations for its effective control; and where the Mayor of the City has suspended the requirements of Section 8-407 of the Charter, the Department shall have the authority to issue orders, which shall be effective until the Board may meet and promulgate regulations, listing said disease as a quarantinable disease and providing for quarantine or isolation of persons who have, or are reasonably suspected of having, or have been exposed to such disease, providing for the control of animals, the control of environmental sanitation, and for such other measures as are necessary to prevent the spread of said disease. Any such orders or regulations issued with respect to the control of COVID-19 shall be subject to Council review 90 days after issuance. The Department shall appear before Council and request a continuance of such orders and regulations and provide the reasons for the extension. Council shall have the authority to deny such extension through the adoption of a corresponding resolution. For any such orders and regulations already in effect upon approval of this ordinance, the above report requirement shall also exist, 90 days after the effective date of this ordinance. The above 90-day reporting requirement shall be in effect after every extension of such orders and regulations. The 90-day reporting requirement shall not pertain to any orders and regulations with respect to listing COVID-19 as a reportable and quarantinable disease, or for orders and regulations pertaining to the quarantine or isolation of persons who have or are reasonably suspected of having the disease.
§ 6-206. Prevention of Congregation of Persons.
(1) Whenever an epidemic of a listed quarantinable disease or whenever an emergency as described in subsection 6-205(1) is found to exist or to be seriously threatened, the Department may in accordance with the regulations of the Board, or by order, as the case may be, forbid congregation of persons at schools, theaters, swimming places, or any public place where such measure is necessary to prevent the spread of such disease. Any such orders and regulations issued with respect to the control of COVID-19 concerning the congregation of persons shall be subject to Council review 90 days after issuance. The Department shall appear before Council and request a continuance of such orders or regulations and provide the reasons for the extension. Council shall have the authority to deny such extension through the adoption of a corresponding resolution. For any such orders and regulations already in effect upon approval of this ordinance, the above report requirement shall also exist, 90 days after the effective date of this ordinance. The above 90-day reporting requirement shall be in effect after every extension of such orders and regulations.
(2) If measures restricting or regulating behavior to control the spread of COVID-19, including preventing the congregation of persons as deemed necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, but not including orders and regulations for the quarantine or isolation of persons who have or are reasonably suspected of having the disease, are promulgated by the Department by order or regulation of the Board in accordance with regulations of the Board are still in effect 90 days after issuance, the Department shall appear before Council and request a continuance of such orders and regulations, providing the reasons for the extension. Council shall have the authority to deny such extension through the adoption of a corresponding resolution. For any such orders and regulations already in effect upon approval of this ordinance, the above report requirement shall also exist, 90 days after the effective date of this ordinance. The above 90-day reporting requirement shall be in effect after every extension of such orders and regulations.
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SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately.
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Explanation:
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted.
Italics indicate new matter added.
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