Increased COVID leads to more local government office closings UPDATED

Update:

It was learned late Monday that the Union County Heritage Museum has been added to the list of closings. Because two of the staff are positive for the virus the museum will be closed until at least Dec. 1.

Original story:

The increased incidence of COVID-19 cases locally and statewide has led to more office closings here.

The Union County Chancery Clerk’s office has been closed this past week with, reportedly, several employees testing positive for the virus. Signs on the door indicate the office will be closed all this week as well.

Anyone who needs help from that office is asked to call 662-534-1900 and leave a voice mail.

Across the street, the Union County Supervisors’ office is closed also, although some work is being done there after at least one person was tested positive.

Anyone needing something from that office is asked to call 662-534-1902.

If you need an E-911 address, you should call 662-534-1983.

The New Albany Light, Gas and Water Department on Cleveland Street, which has been closed a couple of weeks because of COVID cases, remains closed but it appeared that some drive-through window service was available Monday.

The Union County Courthouse was open, but with limited access to the Circuit Clerk’s and Tax Assessor-Collector’s offices.

Access was also limited to New Albany City Hall, where at least one employee had tested positive earlier and others had self-quarantined.

The Union County Library is going back to curbside service Tuesday due to concerns over the spread of COVID. They still will be able to provide all library services except for computer access. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. They will be closed Thursday through Saturday this week because of the holiday.

Of course, all city and county government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday anyway, and schools are out this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Mississippi State Department of Health considers Union a high-incidence county with 202 new cases over the past two-week period ending Nov. 13. That equates to 710 cases per 100,000 and a 16-percent increase over the previous period.

As of Monday, the state health department was reporting 1,601 total cases in Union County and 25 deaths. Forty-six of the cases were at long-term care facilities and 11 deaths were at care facilities.

People are still asked to wear masks when in public, practice social distancing, hand sanitize and maintain limit crowd sizes appropriately at events.