Title
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, To Continue Emergency Procedures to Ensure Continuity of City Government Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
On March 12, 2020, Governor Ralph S. Northam issued Executive Order Fifty-One (51) declaring a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia arising from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Executive Order Fifty-One (51) acknowledged the existence of a disaster as defined by Virginia Code Section 44-146.16 arising from the public health threat presented by a communicable disease anticipated to spread. Executive Order Fifty-One (51) ordered implementation of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, activation of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center to provide assistance to local governments, and authorization for executive branch agencies to waive “any state requirement or regulation” as appropriate.
The City Manager, in her capacity as Director of Emergency Management, issued a declaration of a local emergency on March 13, 2020, as the spread of the virus known as COVID-19 constituted an imminent threat of disaster and a real and substantial threat to the health and safety of persons and property in the City. Subsequent to that declaration of a local emergency dated March 13, 2020, and as additional knowledge of the rapidly expanding impacts of COVID-19 became known, the City Manager, on March 17, 2020, amended and restated the declaration of a local emergency. City Council by Resolution confirmed the City Manager’s declaration of emergency and adopted a Continuity of Government Ordinance, thus affirming the existence of a disaster and declared and confirmed a state of emergency throughout the entire City that remains active. There have been and continue to be confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Hampton Roads region.
Federal, state and local officials advise that a second wave of COVID-19 in the fall and winter months is likel...
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