Philadelphia Health Officials Concerned After Video Of Large Gathering Surfaces

Howard Monroe reports.

ELECTION COSTS.WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMINGUP ON "EYEWITNESS NEWS" AT5:30.THIS VIDEO OF A BIGGATHERING YESTERDAY INBREWERYTOWN HAS PHILADELPHIAHEALTH OFFICIALS CONCERNED.THEY SAY GATHERINGS LIKE THISONE COULD SET THE CITY BACKJUST AS PREPARATIONS MOVEFORWARD FOR REOPENING.HOWARD MONROE IS ONRITTENHOUSE SQUARE WITH MORE.HI, HOWARD.Reporter: HI, JESSICA.THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLEOUT HERE ON THE SQUAREENJOYING TODAY'S NICE WEATHER.HOWEVER, GIVEN THE CURRENTHEALTH CRISIS THAT'S NOTNECESSARILY A GOOD THING.HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGINGYOU TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE ANDWEAR A MASK.THERE'S GOING TO BE FOLKSIN OUR SOCIETY THAT ARE GOINGTO IGNORE IT AND THEY'RE GOINGTO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.Reporter: FRUSTRATIONFROM PHILADELPHIA MAYOR JIMKENNEY TOWARDS THE HUNDREDS OFPEOPLE WHO WERE CAUGHTGATHERING IN BREWERYTOWNMONDAY EVENING.THIS GATHERING HAPPENED IN AVACANT LOT AT THE INTERSECTIONOF 28TH STREET AND CECIL B.MOORE AVENUE.THERE WERE ABOUT 250 PEOPLEAND A DJ.THE EVENT WAS PLANNED OVERSOCIAL MEDIA.ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED FORDISORDERLY CONDUCT.THE MAYOR SAID LARGEGATHERINGS LIKE THIS ANDELSEWHERE COULD RESULT INKEEPING THE CITY IN AN EVENLONGER PROLONGED SHUTDOWN.THEY'RE DEDICATED TOPUTTING US BACK IN THE REDSTATE AS OPPOSED TO YELLOW.I MEAN, AGAIN, GOD FORBID, ANDI'M SAYING THIS WITH ALLPRAYERFULNESS, THAT EVENTHOUGH THESE FOLKS ARE DOINGWHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY CANDRIVE DOWN THESE NUMBERS, THEYCAN GET BACK INTO SOMENORMALCY BUT IF WE DON'T GETTHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE THEIRFAULT.Reporter: DESPITEGATHERINGS ACROSS THE CITYTHERE APPEARS TO BE RELIEF INSIGHT.BEGINNING IMMEDIATELYRESTAURANTS CAN ACCEPT INPERSON TAKEOUT ORDERS.PREVIOUSLY ORDERS HAD TO BEMADE ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE.RESTAURANTS ARE ONLY ALLOWEDTO HAVE 10 CUSTOMERS IN LINEAT ONE TIME AND CUSTOMERS MUSTTHIS IS WHAT I CONSIDER TOBE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ANEW NORMAL HERE.IF ALL OF OUR NUMBERS CONTINUETO BE GOOD, WE EXPECT THAT THEPHILADELPHIA WILL GO TO WHATGOVERNOR WOLF HAS CALLEDCATEGORY YELLOW PHASE ONJUNE 10TH.Reporter: IT'S IMPORTANTTO NOTE THAT JUNE 5TH IT IS ATARGET DATE, IT IS NOT SET INSTONE.EARLIER TODAY I WAS ABLE TOSPEAK WITH THE PHILADELPHIACITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.