Williamsburg city facilities and buildings would remain closed for an additional 30 days and eligible city staff will continue to telework, City Manager Andrew Trivette announced Tuesday.
Trivette said that’s consistent with Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order, which goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
It mandates the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. Northam also urged all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home, if and when possible.
“To best model the Governor’s order, I am keeping all City buildings closed through Thursday, April 23, 2020,” Trivette wrote in a news release. “This includes the Municipal Building, Community Building, Quarterpath Recreation Center, police station (no visitors) and fire station (no visitors). City parks and playgrounds will remain closed until further notice.”
Eligible city employees will continue to work from home while others, such as police, fire and public works employees, will report in for work “but will adhere to prevention and protection guidelines such as social distancing, disinfecting surfaces and hand washing/sanitizing,” Trivette said.
“These are unprecedented circumstances, but I am confident that we are fully capable of providing the same high-quality service to our community as we always have,” Trivette added.
Residents can stay up-to-date on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic by accessing the city’s website and clicking on the City of Williamsburg Hub at the top of the page.
The city also has a 24-hour COVID-19 telephone hotline for questions and concerns: 757-259-7200.
As of Tuesday, James City County remains to have one of the highest positive cases of coronavirus in the state at 37; Williamsburg has 5, York County, 6 and Newport News, 3, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The death toll in Virginia stands at 7 – one in Fairfax County, one in Virginia Beach and 5 in the Peninsula Health District.
Virginia, as of Tuesday, has 290 positive coronavirus cases.
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