News Flash

March 16, 2020 - Starting Monday and continuing at least through March 29, all city facilities will be closed to the public to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The closure includes City Hall at 22 Lincoln St., the Ruppert Sargent Building at 1 Franklin St., city offices at other locations, libraries, community centers, golf courses, the Hampton History Museum and Carousel, The  American Theatre, the Hampton Roads Convention Center and the Hampton Coliseum. Trash and recycling pickup will continue on their regular schedules.

Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting and city managers and administrators from the Peninsula have asked all residents to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people, including church services, civic and social organization meetings and public events. “Additional steps may be required in the coming hours and days as local officials try to slow the rate of infection," allowing the local health system the capability to treat those who most need medical care, they said Saturday.

Canceled event and activities in Hampton include the Hampton Youth Commission Candidates Forum scheduled for this evening at the Hampton Roads Convention Center; a community input meeting on the 2021 city budget scheduled for Thursday at Oozlefinch Craft Brewery; a performance by the musical group 10,000 Maniacs at the American Theatre on Saturday; and all activities in city community centers and libraries.

Parks buildings, such as the Sandy Bottom Nature Visitors Center, will be closed and there will be no scheduled activities, but the public can use outdoor spaces during daytime hours. Although outside park facilities are still available for use by residents, parks visitors are encouraged to practice social distancing by staying six feet apart. Also, taxpayers can still use the drop-off box outside the entrance to the Ruppert Sargent Building, 1 Franklin St., and many permit applications are available online at www.hampton.gov.

Although the Voter Registrar’s office is among those closed to the public, residents can continue to register to vote online or by mail. The registration deadline for the May 5 local election for mayor, city council and the school board is April 13. Online applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. that day, and applications by mail must be postmarked by that date. Please go online for more information.

Hampton City Schools, which has canceled classes until March 29 because of concerns about the coronavirus, will provide free packaged meals to any student 18 years of age or younger Monday-Friday between 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Go online for more information, including pick-up locations.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, the Peninsula Health Department has set up a special call center from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at 757-594-7069. Also, Hampton officials will host a Facebook Live Q&A about the coronavirus at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. Visit https://www.facebook.com/HamptonVA/ .  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