Salem City Manager Rex Barbee says the city staff has been hit hard by COVID-19. He says they have a few positive cases and a number of others on quarantine due to being close contacts. Barbee himself is a close contact and is working from home on isolation.
Only four staff remain at city hall due to the outbreak. Barbee says the remaining employees and others working from home are continuing to try and handle the workload. City Hall was earlier closed to the public with all payments and issues being handled through the city’s dropbox, phone, or via e-mail.
The Animal Control facility has also been closed to the public until further notice due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. As a result, no animals are being adopted and no animals can be brought to the pound. Animal Control officer Dave Lusch will still be available to handle animal complaints through the police department.
Barbee says Public Works crews so far have not been hit as hard.
