Mecklenburg libraries ‘grab and go’ only. Changes in parks announced.

Mecklenburg County is temporarily curtailing in-person government activities and services as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations severely worsen in and around Charlotte.

County Manager Dena Diorio said the disruptions — planned at least through Feb. 2 — mirror precautions taken last spring, when Mecklenburg entered a stay-at-home order at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her announcement on Thursday aligns with Public Health Director Gibbie Harris’ directive pleading with residents to stay home and help slow the spread of the virus.

“Our COVID numbers are going up, not down, so for the next three weeks, only essential and mandated services that cannot be performed virtually will be provided in-person,” Diorio said in a statement.

Some Public Health clinics and programs might be rescheduled or delayed, Diorio said. Residents can call the county’s hotline for more information at 980-314-9400.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is reducing operations, which means patrons cannot enter buildings. “Grab and go” pick-ups at library branches and digital options are available. Library staff quarantine books and materials for 24 hours before they’re checked in.

“We’ll continue to bring back in-person services as it is safe to do so and in a way that meets safety requirements as outlined by the State and the County,” library director Caitlin Moen said in a statement.

Mecklenburg County parks must close at dusk and reservations of athletics fields are suspended. All recreation, senior and nature centers, along with indoor shelters, are also closed. That includes the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, the Skatepark at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and camping at McDowell Nature Preserve.

Outdoor picnic shelters remain open but gatherings are generally prohibited except among household family members. The new rules do not appear to affect playgrounds in parks, which are open but social distancing and masks are required in public.

The Office of the Tax Collector is also impacted, with the county’s announcement saying “In-person payments at the Valerie C. Woodard Center will be temporarily suspended.” Payments can be made online or by calling 1-800-994-1026.

Already, nearly 75% of county employees work remotely, Diorio said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

For a full list of how COVID-19 affects county services, visit the “News” page on Mecklenburg’s website.

Harris’ guidelines issued Tuesday — which the health director said are “very strong recommendations” but lack an enforcement mechanism — also ask people to avoid non-essential travel, remain at home between 10 p.m-5 a.m., and avoid recreational activities that could involve close contact with others.

“This is our best opportunity to slow the growth of the virus in our community and to help all of us get back to those opportunities that are important to us,” Harris told reporters. “I applaud those who are complying and ask for everyone to think seriously about the role that they play in helping get this pandemic under control in Mecklenburg County.”

The directive expires in three weeks, but some county commissioners are skeptical the measures are sufficient to flatten the curve — and galvanize residents to stay vigilant amid a post-holiday surge. It could take weeks to see the full impact of Christmas and New Year’s gatherings on already strained hospitals, based on the incubation period of the virus and the time it takes for symptoms to develop.

Harris isn’t targeting a specific threshold for cases and hospitalizations by February to know if her directive was effective.

“I’m looking for any kind of decrease at this point,” she said.

Diorio said the directive could be extended if coronavirus conditions don’t improve. But the county’s COVID-19 policy team — comprised of hospital leaders, first responders, emergency management personnel, and town and city officials — is not pursuing additional restrictions.

“To be perfectly frank, there was just not really an appetite amongst the group,” Diorio said. “There was really not any interest in us moving away from any of the governor’s executive orders or being more restrictive.”

This story was originally published January 14, 2021 at 4:22 PM.