COVID-19 Proclamation
On Friday March 13, 2020 Mayor Pohlman signed a proclamation declaring COVID-19 an emergency situation for city government. Although the City of Plymouth does not have a public health department, the city provides essential services including water, electric, sewer and public safety services that must be maintained during an extended pandemic.
Initial actions by city governments include the following:
Implementation of a 30-day ban (effective March 16th) on the use of city hall by third party groups for public events.
Implementation of a 30-day service counter closure for foot traffic (effective March 16th) for Plymouth Utilities. Exterior payment drop-off, mailed payments, and online payment services remain as options for fulfilling payment responsibilities.
New rentals for public facilities including the youth center will not be approved for activities thru April.
No new street closure permits for public events will be approved for events thru April.
Ban on staff traveling out-of-state for training and conferences at least thru April. Staff will also be asked to limit new in-state travel plans to those things that are mission critical.
Amendment to our employee health plan to cover the cost of initial testing for COVID-19 without it applying to the deductible.
Temporary stop of exchanging water meters for the next 30 days unless required for regulatory reasons.
Review of inventory levels to ensure adequate supplies of materials.
Planning for teleworking as may be appropriate under future scenarios.
Additional actions may be taken by city government in the coming weeks as this is a fluid situation that is still developing.
Preparing for COVID-19
CDC website on COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
In the case of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently advises that common symptoms include flu-like symptoms (fever (100° F or higher), cough or sore throat, headache or body aches, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting) or symptoms of respiratory illness (fever (100° F or higher), cough, and shortness of breath). In order to slow or stop the spread of these illnesses, it is critical to follow the below instructions, which is guidance from the CDC as of 3/11/2020.
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
o The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
o Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (at home or in a health care setting).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
o If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
o For information about handwashing, see the CDC’s Handwashing website.
o For information specific to healthcare providers, see the CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings.