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Mar 26, 2020
Today marks exactly two weeks from the first emergency message I broadcast. And in this very short period of time, our lives have turned upside down due to the pandemic of COVID-19. All residents of the City of Rehoboth Beach have been urged to shelter in place, to stay at home and not leave your houses unless absolutely necessary, as confirmed cases of the disease continue to rise daily. I am grateful that there is much community support from residents and business owners who are working very hard to heed the warnings. I am hopeful with the closure of the beach and Boardwalk, visitors to our City will decrease significantly during the pandemic.
Please understand that your City Government is operating within the State of Emergency. Although all City offices remain closed to the public, we are trying our best to provide the essential services to the community while at the same time protecting the City’s administrative staff and employees. Many City Hall staff are operating remotely, or staggering work hours to minimize contact with each other. However, all regular City business is still being carried out. Public Works employees, although at times working with minimal crews, continue to pick up trash and yard waste, run our wastewater treatment plant and service our water supply. City police officers and 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers are all valiantly working 24/7. Please be patient when reaching out to us. We are trying very hard to provide clear and concise information. When possible, please contact us by email to allow time to answer your questions and please check the City’s website at cityofrehoboth.com frequently as messages are added daily.
I ask everyone to think of your neighbors and your families, and to protect your own health as well as others by heeding all the warnings, practicing good hygiene, and most importantly right now, by sheltering in your homes. For those of you traveling to the City of Rehoboth Beach to endure the pandemic in your second homes, please thoughtfully consider where you may have traveled over the winter months. Especially if you are contemplating coming from your permanent home in a larger city, consider the impacts of potentially and unknowingly being a carrier of the virus and possibly infecting others. We are very thankful that you have chosen Rehoboth Beach for your second home and encourage you to enjoy the City often during better times. However, given the circumstances, our primary goal is public safety for all! Every day we see the number of COVID-19 cases increasing and more tragically, the growing number of deaths from the illness. Nothing is more important at this time than doing everything we can to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our health care system is not overwhelmed.
In difficult times, our community has always come together to work cooperatively. I am confident we will garner the strength and courage to get through this as we work together to stay positive, yet vigilant.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
All residents living within the City of Rehoboth Beach limits are encouraged to visit the City of Rehoboth Beach CodeRED self-enrollment site to enroll additional contact information including cell phone numbers, text, and email addresses.
