GREENFIELD — With the number of positive COVID-19 cases soaring throughout the county, especially in Greenfield and Montague, the two have decided to close their municipal buildings to the public until further notice.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner announced that the temporary closure of City Hall and other municipal buildings starts Monday. The closure of high-traffic municipal buildings is due to a “significant increase” in the spread of COVID-19 in Greenfield.
Wedegartner said Interim Health Director Jennifer Hoffman told her as of Wednesday, Dec. 9, the city had identified more than 100 people either quarantining or being investigated for having been exposed to someone with COVID-19 — just from Monday to Wednesday of last week the city reported 39 new positive cases.
The plan was developed by the mayor with the input of staff at the city’s Emergency Operations Center and the Health Department.
Effective Monday, City Hall at 14 Court Square and the Department of Public Works Office at 189 Wells St. will be closed to public traffic and will be open by appointment only. The City Clerk’s Office, City Council Office, Treasurer/Collector’s Office, Mayor’s Office, Licensing Department, Assessor’s Office and Retirement Office, all in City Hall, will be open by appointment only.
City offices have been and will continue to maintain weekday business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Veteran’s Services at 294 Main St. is still open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for certain walk-in services but will move to appointments only at the end of the month. The Recreation Department, Health Department and Inspections Department are not open to the public, but they can be reached by phone, email and dropbox.
The Greenfield Public Library has ceased in-person browsing, but it will continue with its curbside and online services. Meanwhile, the Council on Aging will only offer curbside service.
Residents are encouraged to do business with the city remotely, either by dropbox (at the side door of City Hall), phone, mail or online.
■All visitors must enter City Hall by the side door, near the accessible ramp. Access will be limited, and visitors will be checked in.
■All visitors must sign in at the door, use hand sanitizer upon entry and wear a face covering while in the building. Refusal will mean no entry, though accommodations will be made for medical issues.
■Public restrooms will remain closed.
■Face coverings will be available at City Hall for visitors who do not have them.
■All visitors will be asked to maintain social distancing and will be kept 6 feet apart.
For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at mayor@greenfield-ma.gov or 413-772-1560. For city offices, visit greenfield-ma.gov.
Montague officials announced Friday that due to the increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, they are closing all town buildings until further notice. According to the state Department of Public Health’s latest statistics, Montague reported 33 new COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks since Thanksgiving, putting the town in the “red” or highest-risk category.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” officials wrote on the Montague town website.
The town urges its residents to maintain social distancing, wear masks and limit non-essential social contact, along with any other guidelines the state sets.
For more information, visit montague-ma.gov.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.