Controversy Between Gov. Wolf, Mayor Kenney Over Decision To Close Schools

Greg Argos reports.

NEW JERSEY HAS 50 CASESTHROUGHOUT THE STATE ANDDELAWARE HAS A TOTAL OF FOURCASES, ALL OF THEM IN NEW CASTLECOUNTY.TWO WEEK SCHOOL CLOSUREBEGINS MONDAY FOR PENNSYLVANIASTUDENTS.GREG ARGOS JOINS US LIVE WITHSOME OF THE CONTROVERSY BETWEENTHE GOVERNOR AND CITY OFPHILADELPHIA LEADERS OVER THEDECISION TO SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS.GREG.WELL, JESSICA, WITH THISTOTAL SCHOOL CLOSURE LIFE WILLCHANGE EVEN MORE DRASTICALLY FORTENS OF THOUSANDS OFPENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS AND OFCOURSE, ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES.THE GOVERNOR TODAY SAYS THISCLOSURE IS NECESSARY.PHILADELPHIA'S MAYOR DISAGREES.DAY BY DAY CONFIRMEDCORONAVIRUS CASES CONTINUE TOINCREASE IN PENNSYLVANIA.THIS IS REALLY A VERYRAPIDLY CHANGING SITUATION.SO FRIDAY, GOVERNOR TOM WOLFENACTING ANOTHER POLICY IN THEFIGHT TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THEVIRUS.WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BECLOSING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLSACROSS THE STATE.SCHOOLS WILL BE SHUTTEREDSTARTING MONDAY FOR TWO WEEKS.THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION ANGERINGPHILADELPHIA MAYOR JIM KENNEYAND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERS.OUR KIDS WERE SAFER STAYINGIN SCHOOL.THEY GET BREAKFAST LET MEFINISH, THEY GET BREAKFAST, THEYGET LUNCH AND A SAFE PLACE TOBE.REALITY IS WE WANTED TO KEEPSCHOOLS OPEN, BECAUSE OFDECISIONS MADE BY OTHERGOVERNMENTS AND THE GOVERNOR WECAN'T DO THAT.THIS CLOSURE IS NOW NECESSARYWHERE THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIESWHERE MANY DISTRICT EMPLOYEESRESIDE WERE ASKED TOSELF-QUARANTINE AND CANNOTADEQUATELY STAFF SCHOOLS.SO FAR 41 PEOPLE TESTEDPOSITIVE FOR COVID-19 INPENNSYLVANIA.NEARLY HALF, SOME 18, ARE INMONTGOMERY COUNTY.CHESTER HAS ONE CONFIRMED CASE.BUCKS AND PHILADELPHIA COUNTIESEACH HAVE THREE.ALL THE HOSPITALS HAVE PUTIN POLICE EMERGENCY OPERATIONSPLANS TO BOTH ADDRESS THECURRENT SITUATION WHERE THEYHAVE A RELATIVELY SMALLER NUMBEROF PEOPLE WHO MAY NEEDYVALUATION AND TESTING AS WELL TOPLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENED IF REALSURGE IN PATIENTS IN THE FUTURE.PHILADELPHIA HEALTHCOMMISSIONER THOMAS FARLEYSUGGESTS THAT SURGE IS LIKELY TOHAPPEN.WE HAVE 62 ADDITIONAL PEOPLEWHO HAVE BEEN TESTED AND THEIRTEST RESULTS ARE -- WE'REWAITING FOR THEM.THE HEALTH COMMISSIONERFARLEY ALSO ANNOUNCING THAT NEWHELP LINE FOR ANYONE IN THEGREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA WITHQUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS.THAT NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN.IT'S 1-800-722-7112.FARLEY SAYS IT WILL BE STAFFED24/7.THE GOVERNOR TODAY ALSOANNOUNCING ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS WILLCONTINUE TO SERVE MEALS TO LOWINCOME STUDENTS.THOSE MEALS CAN BE PICKED UP INA DRIVE THROUGH OR GRAB AND GO