Nat Kerman

New Haven announced a state of emergency on Sunday — the latest in a series of efforts designed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The state of emergency is effective through Sept. 14 unless terminated sooner and will allow the city to receive federal compensation for money spent to address the pandemic. New Haven’s announcement follows analogous moves by Gov. Ned Lamont on March 10 and by President Donald Trump on March 13. In addition to Sunday’s announcement, Mayor Justin Elicker has also in recent days closed all public schools indefinitely and issued an executive order implementing half occupancy for city establishments, constituting a sharp uptick from earlier suggestions regarding crowd sizes.

“Given the growing spread of this virus in our city, state, and country, I am declaring a state of emergency in the City of New Haven to protect the public health of our residents,” Elicker said in a Sunday press release. “There is no doubt that COVID-19 will continue to spread in our community, and I will take every measure appropriate to limit exposure to our residents. 

“I have also made the decision to close City Hall to the public tomorrow, and indefinitely. We are curtailing all activities except critical functions until further notice.”

The announcement comes amid two positive COVID-19 tests in the Elm City and a third presumed case.

Mackenzie Hawkins | mackenzie.hawkins@yale.edu

MACKENZIE HAWKINS
Mackenzie is the editor in chief and president of the Managing Board of 2022. She previously covered City Hall for the News, including the 2019 mayoral race and New Haven's early pandemic response. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she is a junior in Trumbull College studying ethics, politics and economics.