Courthouse, county offices limit access, alter schedules

UPDATE:

Wednesday morning, County Administrator David Moore's office issued a notice stating that effective immediately, county offices will be closed to the public. However, offices will remain open 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. Anyone who needs services and does not know who to contact is asked to call 926-1676.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Monday afternoon, the Virginia Supreme Court declared a “judicial emergency” in district and circuit courts, in place until April 6.

The order suspends all non-essential, non-emergency court proceedings and extends all deadlines for 21 days.

Further, the order states that courts may limit courtroom attendance to attorneys, parties, necessary witnesses and members of the press in any matters that cannot be postponed.

Also, courts are authorized to consult with local government about whether to prohibit building entry by people who have traveled to high-risk countries or areas within the U.S. suffering from “widespread community transmission” of the virus; people who have been asked to quarantine themselves; people who have been diagnosed with the virus or been in contact with someone who has it; people suffering a fever, cough or shortness or breath.

COURTHOUSE

Tuesday, Circuit Court Clerk Richard Edwards posted a notice on the county website asking people to limit in-person visits “only to matters that cannot be completed in any other way until April 6.”

Meanwhile, online payments and e-filing can be done at http://www.courts.state.va.us/online/home.html.

Email the clerk at rwedwards@vacourts.gov.

If someone needs to come with essential court business, they are asked to first call the office at 926-1616. “This is no joke,” the notice states.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT

In a document posted to the county’s website Monday, county supervisors noted that the maintenance department will perform sanitizing practices three times per week at the courthouse, the judicial center and the Center for Education and Research, along with other county buildings “to the extent possible.” Also, individual staff members will be required to increase cleaning and sanitation efforts in their workspaces.

Further, the document states:

• County offices reserve the right to refuse service to people who display symptoms of an illness.

• Non-essential work travel is suspended until further notice.

• If conditions worsen, county offices may stagger shifts and/or work hours, use telework options and/or close offices to the public.

• For now, county supervisors’ meetings and workshops will continue “but in accordance with limited public gathering requirements.”

• If conditions worsen, those meetings “may be altered or closed to live public attendance.” If so, they will be streamed for live viewing as per state rules/guidelines.