Salem To Close City Buildings To Public, Urges Working From Home

SALEM, MA — Salem will close all municipal buildings to the public for 10 days starting on Christmas Eve, while it "strongly encourages" all businesses in the city to allow employees who can to work remotely, amid a surge in coroanvirus cases in the region.

Municipal buildings will close starting Wednesday through Jan. 3. This includes Salem City Hall, City Hall Annex and the Department of Public Services building. The Salem Public Library and Mayor Jean Levesque Community Life Center have been closed to the public.

The buildings will be minimally staffed from Dec. 28 to Dec. 31 with most city employees working remotely. Officials said city departments will respond to voicemails and emails during this time.

"The city strongly encourages other employers in Salem who have staff able to work remotely to allow or require them to do so for the period following the holidays," the city said. "Increased cases of COVID-19 have typically followed holidays, when people gather and are generally less cautious about public health guidance.

"Keeping employees at home and separated from each other for one or two weeks can help mitigate the transmission of the virus amongst workforces and the public in general."

Residents are encouraged to pay any bills due online here, access public records here, apply for permits here, submit a city service work order here and find information on other online services here.

A directory of city departments with staff voice mail numbers and email addresses can also be found here.