The City of Hoquiam has made adjustments to court proceedings and City Hall visits in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Ben Winkelman issued an emergency order declaring an emergency Friday “due to the imminent spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the City of Hoquiam in Grays Harbor County.”

City Administrator Brian Shay announced Friday that the March 23 City Council meeting has also been canceled.

“Beginning next week, City Hall will be closed to the public on Fridays,” said Shay. “The Finance Department will be sending out additional information to our City Hall customers to address ‘social distancing’.”

Interim Municipal Court Judge Jim Parker issued an emergency order Friday, stating in part, “All hearings, other than arraignments and preliminary appearances, including pretrial conferences, motions and compliance review hearings scheduled on March 17, 2020 and April 7, 2020, shall be continued and rescheduled to April 21, 2020.”

“As we have all seen over the last week, this is a very fluid situation which changes on a daily or even hourly basis,” said Shay. “We will continue to update you as more information becomes available or additional city measures are taken.”

The 2020 Hoquiam Easter egg hunt and the Shorebird Festival have been canceled, according to Hoquiam Community Services Coordinator Tracy Wood.