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1101 Market Street, 11th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: 215-238-6300 • Fax: 215-238-1267 • www.philadelphiabar.org

March 06, 2020

Philadelphia Bar Association Coronavirus Response

Updated September 17, 2020

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Recent Updates

  • September 17, 2020 - Philadelphia Administrative Judge Allen and Supervising Judges Shirdan-Harris have issued an Order regarding the implementation of the Center for Disease Control’s residential eviction moratorium in cases filed in the Trial Division of the Court of Common Pleas, and a new filing requirement for a "Plaintiff's Affidavit in Connection with The CDC Order and Temporary Halt in Evictions to Prevent further Spread of Covid-19" ("Affidavit").
  • September 16, 2020 - Philadelphia Administrative Judge Allen and Supervising Judges Shirdan-Harris have issued a Notice to the Bar setting the protocol for the resumption of Arbitration Hearings during COVID-19 judicial emergency.
  • September 14, 2020 - Philadelphia Administrative Judge Allen and Supervising Judges Shirdan-Harris and Glazer have issued a Notice to the Bar setting the protocol for Settlement Conferences in Major Jury, Arbitration Appeal and Non-Jury Cases.
  • September 11, 2020 – Philadelphia Administrative Judge Allen and Supervising Judges Shirdan-Harris and Glazer have issued a Notice to the Bar setting the protocol for Discovery Motions filed after September 7.
  • September 11, 2020 – The Philadelphia Courts have set a Policy for Public Access to Judicial Proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes a policy for livestreaming.
  • September 9, 2020 - Philadelphia Municipal Court President Judge Dugan has issued an Order directing the Landlord-Tenant Officer to not serve any alias writs of possession in residential cases until September 23, 2020. Until that date, service of writs of possession will be permitted on a limited basis, along with notice of the September 1 CDC Order and the Declaration Form.
  • September 4, 2020 – The First Judicial District has provided the Declaration Form which must be completed by eligible tenants and presented to their landlords in order to qualify under the Center for Disease Control’s recent Agency Order placing a moratorium through the end of the year on evictions of eligible tenants for nonpayment of rent.
  • September 2, 2020 - Philadelphia Administrative Judge Jacqueline Allen and Supervising Judge Shirdan-Harris issued a Notice to the Bar regarding protocols for non-jury trials during the COVID-19 Judicial Emergency.
  • September 2, 2020 – The U.S. Center for Disease Control has issued an Agency Order placing a moratorium on eviction of tenants who meet certain qualifications and who are impacted by the pandemic.

Montgomery County Emergency Procedures

Covid-19 Emergency Protocol
Case Conference Request Form
Coronavirus Response

The Philadelphia Bar Association is following the recent directives of Governor Wolf and Mayor Kenney to close all non-essential businesses by temporarily closing our physical office at 1101 Market Street for the foreseeable future. The recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is being closely monitored by health organizations and governments worldwide.

Although our office is closed, the Philadelphia Bar Association as an entity is open and working remotely. Our staff is ready and available to continue to service our members. Please feel free to contact staff by email or phone, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All scheduled meetings will now take place via conference call. Please refer to your meeting announcement for conference call details, or contact Dawn Petit at dpetit@philabar.org or (215) 238- 6367. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Tracey McCloskey at tmccloskey@philabar.org or (215) 238-6360.

All CLE programming, until further notice, will be offered via webcast. For course offerings, dates, and times, please visit:

Philadelphia Bar Association Calendar List

Then, type "CLE" in the search box and hit "Go."

The Philadelphia Bar Association is committed to the health and safety of our staff, members, and visitors. We wish you and your loved ones well during these unusual circumstances. Further announcements will be made as necessary.

During the week of February 23, the first incidence of “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”) was reported in the United States. COVID-19 is a novel (new) coronavirus—named “SARS-CoV-2”—which causes a respiratory illness whose symptoms can range from mild to severe. The illness was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, before spreading into other countries. The first U.S. cases have been the result of importation via travelers from Wuhan and their close contacts.

Clinical information currently suggests that most cases are mild, with serious illness occurring in about 16% of cases. Those prone to serious occurrences of the disease are older people, those with underlying health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes, and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, can appear 2-14 days after exposure. The disease is believed to be spread through the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth, and via airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing.

The United States Centers for Disease Control's current risk assessment of COVID-19 as it relates to the U.S. population is that most of the American public is unlikely to be exposed at this time, and the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is low. Healthcare workers and travelers returning from affected international locations are at an elevated risk.

Where can I learn more about COVID-19?

Information and advice from the CDC about COVID-19 is available here. If you experience symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or who has recently traveled from an area currently experiencing an outbreak, the CDC recommends that you call your doctor.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Information About the Coronavirus

  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Provides information on what you should know about the disease, including how it spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, testing, and frequently asked questions. It also provides daily situation updates and information for communities, schools, businesses, and travel.
  • World Health Organization
    Provides advice for the public, daily situation updates, travel advice, and country-specific information.
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health
    Frequent updates on the status of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, guidance on getting your household prepared for an outbreak, and advice on large gatherings and community events.
  • Philadelphia Department of Health
    Planning guidance for businesses and nonprofit organizations and the latest local information on COVID-19.
  • Pennsylvania Public Health Law Benchbook
    Designed for the courts and useful to practitioners, this benchbook provides a glossary of public health-related terminology, analysis and background information for some of the legal issues a court may be called upon to consider when a major health issue arises, model orders, and a table of cases.

For Announcements on the Status of Court Operations:

United States District Court:
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