The coronavirus closed Worcester's City Hall in March.
But next week, the building and others will slowly start getting back to normal.
"Based on the numbers, based on what we're seeing not only across the city but across the state, we feel comfortable to start opening the doors to that," said Eric Batista of the city's office of Urban Innovation.
The following municipal buildings will be open to the public on Monday, Sept. 14:
- City Hall, 455 Main St.
- Department of Public Works & Parks (76 East Worcester St. and 50 Skyline Drive)
- Inspectional Services/Worcester Fire Department, 25 Meade St.
- Municipal Service Center, 801 Main St.
- Worcester Police Department, 9-11 Lincoln Square
All locations will open with limited capacity, restricted hours and strict safety protocols. Residents may make an appointment online at worcesterma.gov or by calling Customer Service to speak with a live agent Monday-Friday 7:30 AM to 5 PM at (508) 929-1300.
The library and Senior Center will remain closed however.
Batista said, "The Senior Center we're still evaluating. We've spent a lot of time thinking through how we're going to open that building. We're trying to service them as much as we can in their homes. But the center itself will take some time to open because we know it's the highest vulnerability population."
The City is taking several precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including:
- Cleaning and sanitizing of common areas and shared spaces, including touch surfaces such as elevators buttons, point of sale devices, etc.
- Hand sanitizer and masks will be available throughout the buildings
- Plexiglas has been installed in customer-facing areas and floor markers to help ensure appropriate social distancing (both inside and outside for cueing)
- All visitors and customers at City Hall must wear masks in the common areas of all public buildings
And even with these in place, Batista says it's a step in the right direction.
"This is just an opportunity to engage the public back in our spaces that have been closed for over four to six months," Batista said.
Some city buildings will reopen Monday, September 14. Batista says the plan is fluid, meaning if there are concerning trends with the City's coronavirus data, they will shut things down.