LANCASTER—As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, Lancaster County declared a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic pursuant to the Virginia Code. Public access to most county buildings and offices was suspended.
County officials indicted the COVID-19 threat to public health “is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant coordinated local government action to prevent or alleviate potential hardship or suffering.”
This declaration was issued as a precautionary security measure to allow for the full powers of government to deal effectively with the emergency, reported Lancaster County chief of emergency services Matt Smith.
Public access to Lancaster County offices and buildings was suspended until further notice, including county administration, building official, planning and zoning, registrar, Social Services, emergency services, Sheriff, and the offices of the Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue.
The courts have issued their own notices for…[to-view-more]