Politics & Government

Salem Sends Inauguration Online Amid Coronavirus Surge

What was to be a limited-seating event on Monday will now be held fully virtual.

The city was to have a limited-seating inauguration at the Community Life Center but instead will hold the ceremony completely virtual.
The city was to have a limited-seating inauguration at the Community Life Center but instead will hold the ceremony completely virtual. (Scott Souza/Patch)

SALEM, MA — Salem will hold its inauguration for citywide officeholders virtually on Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

The city was to have a limited-seating inauguration at the Community Life Center but instead will hold the ceremony completely virtual. A link to watch the ceremony can be found here.

The event will also be live-streamed on Salem's city Facebook page and the Salem Access Television YouTube page.

Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Community Life Center canceled most large activities — including its New Year's Eve party — because of the rise in virus cases.

The city is also dealing with staffing issues because of positive cases and required quarantines and has asked residents to use online tools to conduct municipal business wherever possible instead of trying to do it in person at Salem City Hall.

Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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