As of March 24 there are 159 Coronavirus cases originating from municipalities in Montgomery County (including one death from the virus), but none from Norristown. Please refer to the CDC’s website for daily updates about the virus as it pertains to symptoms, treatment and travel information. All of this can be found on their website at cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… (Information from the PA Department of Health can be accessed here: https://www.health.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx)
It is important to take proactive steps to protect yourself by simple means like washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, covering your cough/sneeze, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and staying home if you are not feeling well.
En español aquí: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index-sp.html
Testing:
Montgomery County officials have announced that a drive-thru COVID-19 testing will open at Temple University’s Ambler Campus on March 21. For now, this is by appointment/registration only. Full details of the testing site and a link to register for testing will be found here: www.montcopa.org/COVID-19.
Resources:
Do you work in a life-sustaining business? Check out this list from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office detailing over 100 hundred types of businesses and jobs that have been deemed life sustaining. You can file a waiver with the state to keep your business’s physical location open here: https://expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/DCED/Waiver-process-keeping-physical-locations-open.
What about unemployment? Please see the state’s Unemployment Compensation website about filing a claim and if you qualify to do so: https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/Pages/UC-COVID19-FAQs.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3WYHIu7Ueez4CMVywhCGFN7zZzg_R8NfRpd-51s9UgYiK8YHdOQo6VJNU
Montgomery County has established communication tools to answer your questions about COVID-19. You can call 610-631-3000 (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or email COVID19@montcopa.org. Go to http://www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 for local information and to see what communities are affected.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is tracking the outbreak throughout the state and can be viewed here. The department can be reached at 1-800-724-3258.
COMMUNITY UPDATES!
A disaster declaration for the Municipality of Norristown was issued on March 16 and will be in effect until April 16. This is a proactive action being taken so the municipality can get access to the resources and tools it needs to keep residents safe. Again, no cases of the virus are linked to Norristown.
MUNICIPAL HALL:
Municipal Hall will be closed to visitors starting March 18. Regular municipal business will continue. For more information please this press release announcing our shift in operations with the public.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS/SERVICES:
NORRISTOWN POLICE
Police will be temporarily scaling back parking enforcement operations in our neighborhoods to accommodate the additional number of people who will be home. Street cleaning parking enforcement has been suspended. Window operations at the police department remain open, but the filing of police reports is being limited to phone calls only. If you need to file a report call 610-275-1222. The Norristown Police Department is asking the public to call 610-270-0977 then press 0 if they need non-emergency assistance. If coming to the police station entrance at the back of Municipal Hall please use the intercom at the door.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Effective immediately, the following activities have been suspended for a period of at least 30 days, this may be extended if needed: Rental Inspections; property transfer inspections; non-emergency housing complaints; and scheduled non-emergency inspections with the fire department. Please call 610-270-0441 or email codes@norristown.org if you have any questions.
FINANCE/TAXES
As of March 18, payment of bills or tickets will not be done at the finance office. Payment should be made with a cashier’s check, money order or personal check and dropped off at the mail slot at the front of the Municipal Hall entrance during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Cash will not be accepted! Payments can be processed over the phone. Call 610-270-0426 if you have any questions. So far, there have been no order from the state to delay collection of real estate taxes or other taxes.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
All zoning, subdivision and grant program activities that require one-on-one contact with the public will be conducted through the Planning Department window at Municipal Hall. Small business consultation services shall be done by phone interviews until further notice. Small business seminars are suspended until further notice. Please call 610-270-0451 if you have any questions.
PUBLIC WORKS
Street sweeping has been suspended. Any in-person meetings have been canceled in lieu of phone calls.
RECREATION
Activities scheduled by the recreation department and/or hosted at the Norristown Recreation Center are suspended until further notice. Consistent with the Governor’s Stay-at-Home order on March 23, all municipal parks will be closed in order to practice social distancing. The Norristown Recreation Center is also closed.
TRASH/RECYCLING
Weekly trash and recycling collections will continue.
SEPTA
Weekday Regional Rail service has been reduced. Starting March 22, all buses, trolleys, MFL, BSL and NSHL will operate on a Saturday schedule everyday. More information at http://septa.org/
MUNICIPAL EVENT CANCELLATIONS:
Out of precaution, the following events have been canceled.
Norristown Police Department: The department has canceled all of their current and upcoming community events (TAPS at the high school, the citizens police academy) until further notice.
Keep Norristown Beautiful: Involvement in the Great American Cleanup has been postponed until at least May 1.
Small Business Finance Lunch and Learn, April 4.
Town Hall, Justice & Mercy: Criminal Justice in Norristown, April 13.
SCHOOLS AND RECREATION
Norristown Area School District
All NASD schools will be closed through at least April 6.
NASD plan for distributing meals during COVID-19 Closure:
On March 25, Grab-and-Go meal bags will be available for pick up at Gotwals Elementary School and Norristown Area High School beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Gotwals will be a walk up pick up site
Norristown Area HS will be set up as a drive through pick up site
- Each Grab-and-Go meal bag will include 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches
- Grab-and-Go meal bags will be available to all students in the district, as well as siblings under the age of 18
- Meals are to be consumed off site and students and families will not be permitted to enter our buildings and/or congregate on site
Elmwood Park Zoo
Closed.
Montgomery County- Norristown Public Library
Closed. Late fines will not be charged at this time. Some virtual resources are available to cardholders at www.mc-npl.org.
UTILITIES
PAW restores water service to customers
Pennsylvania American Water announced that it is putting a moratorium on service shut offs and reinstating service to previously shut-off customers. More information can be found at amwater.com.
PECO
PECO is suspending service disconnections and waiving new late payment charges through at least May 1, 2020. In addition, PECO will continue to remind customers of existing bill assistance resources and energy assistance programs to support them through temporary or extended financial hardship. Go here for more information: PECO expands customer assistance programs