Title
Resolution of Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia Providing for Certain Relief for Small, Independent, Hampton-Owned Businesses Financially Impacted by COVID-19
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.
On March 13, 2020, the Governor further ordered all K-12 schools in the Commonwealth closed for two weeks. And, on March 17, 2020, along with the Virginia State Health Commissioner, issued an Order of the Governor and State Health Commissioner Declaration of Public Health Emergency (later amended) limiting the number of patrons in restaurants, fitness centers, and theaters to no more than 10 per establishment.
Quickly seeing those measures would not suffice to sufficiently limit the rapid spread of COVID-19, on March 23, 2020 the Governor issued Executive Order Fifty-Three (53), which (i) prohibits all public and private in person gatherings of 10 or more; (ii) ceased all in-person instruction for K-12 for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year; (iii) closed all dining and congregation areas in restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, and farmers markets effective through April 23, 2020; (iv) closed all public access to certain recreational and enterta...
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