Fiedler brings COVID-19 updates, discussion to town hall

Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler April 30, 2021

HARRISBURG, April 30 – State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., hosted a virtual town hall meeting Thursday, bringing Philadelphia Department of Public Health representatives and an infectious disease expert together to provide guidance and answer questions related to COVID-19 for residents of her South Philadelphia district.

“This is an important resource for our neighbors,” Fiedler said. “We are not at the finish line with this pandemic, but we know the steps we need to take to make more progress and save lives. What we do now can still affect the outcome of this pandemic. Public health guidance continues to change as scientists learn more and as both vaccine doses and vaccination rates increase. I wanted to make sure the residents of my district had the opportunity to hear where we are now and to get their questions answered.”

Jefferson’s Dr. John Zurlo and Dr. Julianne Burns with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health provided information on where the city is in terms of the pandemic; the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including dispelling myths; and precautions people should continue to take after vaccination. They also answered COVID-related questions from those attending.

In speaking about the importance of getting vaccinated, Burns stressed, “We’re not done with this pandemic... If you are vaccinated, you have such a lower likelihood of spreading the virus to other people, you are really doing the best you can to protect the ones that you love-- your neighbor, your relative, your friends,” in addition to protecting your own health.

Zurlo shared his own experience of the benefits to peace of mind as well, saying “There has been nothing more liberating for me, in the last 15 months, than getting fully vaccinated.”

Philadelphia is currently in Phase 2 for COVID vaccine eligibility and allows all residents or individuals working in the city 16 years of age or older to be vaccinated. Information about the CDC guidance and city resources discussed during the event can be found here:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html
www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/