City of Bainbridge Island opens Emergency Operations Center

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The city of Bainbridge Island has activated its Emergency Operations Center due to the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

City officials opened the EOC at Bainbridge Island City Hall Monday, and said the center will work “to manage and prioritize resource requests across the community, and to coordinate additional communication and outreach.”

Seven cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Kitsap County — with three on Bainbridge Island. A total of 48 people in Washington state have died from COVID-19, according to figures released Monday by the Washington State Department of Health.

Bainbridge officials announced a three-day closure of city hall Monday due to the coronavirus outbreak. Officials said all public walk-in services at city hall and the police station will be closed to the public through Wednesday, March 18.

The Tuesday meeting of the city council has also been cancelled.

City officials also announced the cancellation of all city advisory group and committee meeting through April 30.

Officials said Design Review Board and Planning Commission meetings will resume once the city “has alternative meeting platforms and other adjustments in place.”

The city has stopped taking new reservations for meetings at city facilities through April 30, and all community training and workshops — including programs for emergency preparedness programs — have been called off through the end of April.

Bainbridge officials said they were focusing on three goals: supporting public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19; supporting the community as a resource for community partners; and continuing to provide essential municipal services, which include police services and support for utilities and other public infrastructure.

City officials currently expect to reopen facilities to the public starting Thursday, March 19, but added that restart may involve limited services.