Rockville City Hall Opening Delayed

Rockville has delayed reopening City Hall following a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the new, more infectious omicron variant, and a concurrent rise in transmission and hospitalizations.

“These are all markers that particularly the county and the state are tracking, and we are paying attention to with respect to public safety,” City Manager Rob DiSpirito told the Mayor and Council at their Jan. 10 meeting. “Those numbers, unfortunately, … have been growing rapidly. So, we continue to monitor that. We also continue to try to provide services to the maximum extent possible.”

City Hall-based services are being provided virtually to the public. COVID-19, including the highly contagious delta variant, poses a serious health risk, especially to individuals who are not fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission and severe COVID-19 cases resulting in hospitalization and death.

Rockville is the only Maryland jurisdiction that has mandated vaccinations and booster shots for eligible employees.

City staff and the Mayor and Council are continuing to review city protocols as health guidance and conditions evolve daily. Employees who can do so are continuing to telework. Face-coverings are mandatory for all employees and visitors, aged 2 and older, to Rockville facilities.

At their Jan. 10 meeting, the Mayor and Council discussed city operations in response to the surge and a proposed two-phased approach to reopening city operations when the worst of the pandemic has passed.

The first phase, which would be implemented once threat from the virus has diminished, would retain virtual meetings for city business and elected and appointed bodies, but allow for in-person customer service. Department of Recreation and Parks facilities that serve the public are currently in the first phase.

In the second phase, employees would return to the workplace and Mayor and Council hybrid meetings would begin.

City Hall has been closed since March 14, 2020, in an effort to protect the health of Rockville employees and the public, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. City government remains open with employees reporting on-site in the field or virtually.

The city’s virtual services can be accessed through www.rockvillemd.gov. Information about testing and vaccinations can be found on Montgomery County’s COVID-19 information portal at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19.