CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County is reducing in-person services effective Jan. 15 because of a continuing risk of coronavirus exposure.
The service changes come the same week after Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris announced a three week COVID-19 Directive imploring people to stay home.
“We are basically going back to where [Mecklenburg] County services were during the Stay-at-Home Order last spring,” Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio said in a released statement. “Our COVID numbers are going up, not down, so for the next three weeks, only essential and mandated services that cannot be performed virtually will be provided in-person.”
Mecklenburg County services have been operating at a limited capacity since March 18, 2020 due to COVID-19. The new Directive expires on Feb. 2, 2021.
The additional reductions include, among others:
· Public Health – Various programs and clinics may be rescheduled or delayed. Call the Public Health Hotline at 980-314-9400 for COVID-19 information and visit MeckNC.gov for updates on affected services
· Park and Recreation –
· Parks – closing at dusk
· Athletic Fields – Reservations are not being accepted at this time
· Outdoor shelters are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not being accepted and group members who do not share a household may not gather.
· Amenities closed to the public:
· All Recreation, Senior and Nature Centers
· Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center
· Indoor Shelters
· Camping at McDowell Nature Preserve
· The Skatepark at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center
· Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 the Library will roll back services to a modified Phase 1, effective through Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Customers will be able to pick up holds, mobile prints and quick pick-ups outside locations without entering Library buildings. Check the website for the status of specific library programs.
· Office of the Tax Collector - In-person payments at the Valerie C. Woodard Center will be temporarily suspended
· Board of County Commissioners - Meetings will be entirely virtual, including the Board’s Budget Retreat January 27-29.
A complete list of the changes and how to access all County services is available at MeckNC.gov.
During Wednesday's press conference, Harris said she is hoping this directive will give our county time to deal with the rising COVID-19 deaths. She stressed that she doesn't want Mecklenburg County to have the same situation LA is in right now.
"We believe that a three-week calming in our community can help us get these numbers back under control so that it can be reasonable," Harris said.