(updated March 17)
On March 16, Mayor Jason Gadd issued a local emergency declaration. This declaration invokes the City’s emergency operations/management plans and pandemic response plans related to the coronavirus outbreak. Fire Chief Dale Specken and City Manager Mike Mornson are leading this emergency effort, in coordination with the City’s senior staff. The Hopkins City Council will continue to receive briefings as necessary.
The City of Hopkins is working closely with Hennepin County Emergency Management Services and the Minnesota Department of Health to monitor and update protocols to keep residents and staff safe as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Minnesota continues to rise.
At this time, the City is following Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommendations and has made the following changes and cancellations:
- Hopkins City Hall and Hopkins Public Works will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18 until further notice
- The Hopkins Activity Center, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, the Hopkins Pavilion and the Depot Coffee House are closed to the public until further notice
- The David Wilcox concert on March 21 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts is cancelled
- The Hopkins Academy scheduled for April is cancelled
- Garden plot registration on April 7 at City Hall is postponed
- The Hopkins Race and Equity Initiative event on April 14 is postponed
- Cops and Community Bingo on April 25 is postponed
- The Hopkins Fire Department hiring process for part-time firefighters is suspended until further notice.
The March 14 Squirrel Nut Zippers concert that was cancelled has been rescheduled to October 24, 2020.
The Hopkins Elks Lodge is also following MDH recommendations and has cancelled the annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
All essential services, including Police, Fire and Public Works, will continue to operate as normal.
City staff will also be working to provide necessary services to the community. Residents and community members are encouraged to connect with staff through the Hopkins website, by phone or by email.
City officials will communicate any significant City-related status updates as they happen on the City of Hopkins website at www.hopkinsmn.com/1045/COVID-19 .
In the meantime, you can help protect yourself and others in the community by:
- Washing your hands thoroughly and often
- Covering your coughs and sneezes
- Not touching your face
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces you touch daily
- Practicing social distancing
- Staying at home if you are sick.
The Minnesota Department of Health website is updated frequently with the latest information about COVID-19. Individuals in need of more information can call the MDH hotline at 651-201-3920.