News Flash

March 23, 2020 - Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday that all public schools will be closed through the end of the school year, and restaurants and breweries throughout Virginia must be carryout only. He also ordered the closing all non-essential retail outlets that can’t follow social distancing guidelines. Also, City Manager Mary Bunting, Schools Superintendent Jeffery Smith, Fire Chief Jason Monk and Police Chief Terry Sult will be part of a Facebook Live event Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Hampton’s Facebook page. 

The Virginia Department of Health said Monday  that 3,697 people in the state had been tested for COVID-19, there were 254 cases, 38 people hospitalized and six deaths. Health officials encourage social distancing and hand washing to help stop the spread of the virus. You can go online for more news and tips.

While all of Hampton’s public buildings remain closed, city residents can still make tax payments and conduct other business with the city online or by telephone, and most city services, including police, fire and Public Works, continue almost as usual.

Police officers, firefighters and others are practicing social distancing when possible. And in some cases documents and paperwork submitted to the city in dropboxes at City Hall and the Rupert Sargent building will be quarantined for a period of time to ensure they are safe to handle.

Last week, the city manager noted that plans are in place for teleworking, and special leave benefits are available for city employees:

• Hampton’s Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer’s Office have begun accepting tax payments by phone, and the city is waiving the $1 fee for online transactions with the Treasurer’s Office. For more details, visit www.hampton.gov/revenue or www.hampton.gov/treasurer.
• Hampton’s Community Development Department continues to accept online permit and inspection requests, and the city is developing plans to let residents use a dropbox outside of City Hall for the submission of other documents and applications.
• While all Parks buildings are closed, city beaches and outside parks continue to be open and available to the public. Residents are reminded to practice social distancing by staying six feet away from each other.
• The Public Works Department continues with regular trash and recycling pickup, stormwater inspections and other regular activities.
• Residents are reminded that the state is allowing anyone to vote absentee by mail for the May 5 local elections. See https://hampton.gov/263/Voter-Registrar for more information.

 If you have a question about a city service that’s not answered here please call the departments listed on www.hampton.gov or call the Citizen Contact Center at 757-727-8311. 

You can get more information from:

• The Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
• The Virginia Health Department: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus
• Hampton City Schools: http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/index.html
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ready.gov/pandemic