Rockville will delay reopening City Hall following a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the new, more infectious omicron variant.
The Mayor and Council discussed the delayed reopening at their Monday, Dec. 20 meeting. City Hall was set to reopen Monday, Jan. 3. The Mayor and Council will revisit the discussion at their Monday, Jan. 10 meeting.
“A vaccination against COVID-19 and a booster shot, as well as covering up with a face mask, are still the best defense against the virus,” City Manager Rob DiSpirito said. “If you have not yet been vaccinated, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible in the interest of your health and that of our community.”
Information about testing and vaccinations can be found on Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information portal at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19.
To learn more about how to get a vaccination, go to www.GoVaxMoco.com.
City staff and the Mayor and Council continue to review city protocols as health guidance and conditions evolve daily, and will adjust requirements for city facilities as needed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the omicron variant, which accounted for less than 1% of cases at the start of December, now accounts for about three-quarters of new COVID cases in the U.S.
Maryland’s seven-day positivity rate was at 10.27%, the highest it has been since January 2021, according to the Maryland COVID-19 Data Dashboard at coronavirus.maryland.gov.
City Hall has been closed since March 14, 2020, in an effort to protect the health of Rockville employees and the public, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. City government remains open with employees reporting on-site, in the field or virtually. The city’s virtual services can be accessed through www.rockvillemd.gov.
Rockville employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received booster shots, unless exempt for religious or medical reasons. Employees with approved exemptions are required to undergo mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing. The policy covers temporary, part- and full-time employees who work on-site and remotely.
The city is also pausing its recreational youth basketball program, and will continue to follow the advice and actions of the county’s health department.
Other city facilities are open, including community centers, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Glenview Mansion and Croydon Creek Nature Center at the Rockville Civic Center, the Rockville Senior Center, and the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center. Check the city’s website at www.rockvillemd.gov for hours and availability.
Face coverings are mandatory for staff and visitors, aged 2 and older, to Rockville facilities, whatever their vaccination status. The City of Rockville will not ask visitors to share their vaccination status.
See RockvilleReports.com for updates as news develops.