COVID-19 Stay at Home FAQ

Published 10:14 pm Monday, March 30, 2020

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Q: Will I still be allowed to go outside?

A: Yes. Though city playgrounds are closed, many other amenities at city parks are open. People must still practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from one another and limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people.

Q: I need to eat. Can I still go to a grocery store or restaurant?

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A: Yes. You can go to the grocery store to pick up food, though some stores have reduced hours. The city has a list of restaurants offering drive-thru or carryout service (www.visitsuffolkva.com/DocumentCenter/View/1870/COVID19_SuffolkRestaurantUpdate).

Q: How does this affect schools?

A: The governor has already ordered public and private K-12 schools to remain closed for the remainder of the current academic year. Suffolk Public Schools will continue with remote learning for its students for the remainder of the school year, and will be delivering food to its students on weekdays. Suffolk Christian Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy are offering remote learning for their students.

Q: How will the stay-at-home order affect city services?

A: City offices are still closed to the public until further notice, though city staff is continuing to provide services. Neighborhood and road projects are still continuing as scheduled. Contact individual departments for more details.

Q: How do I contact the police or other first responders?

A: For an emergency, you still call 911. For non-emergencies, you can contact their respective non-emergency phone numbers or emails. The Suffolk Police Department’s first and second precinct lobbies are closed to the public. Suffolk Police headquarters and Suffolk Fire & Rescue Station 6 lobbies are still open, but with limited service.

Q: What is happening with City Council meetings?

A: City Council will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to discuss issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. City Manager Patrick Roberts said council and city staff at the meeting will be positioned so that they are at least 6 feet apart from one another. The public will be allowed to attend, and they will also be seated at least 6 feet apart from anyone else in the council chamber. The public will only have access to the council chamber during this and any subsequent meetings at City Hall. It has not yet been determined whether council will conduct future meetings in a virtual format, but one of the votes Tuesday, if approved, is expected to give them that authority. City staff has been and will continue to increase sanitizing of common surfaces in the council chambers, according to city spokeswoman Diana Klink.