COVID-19 Update

March 20, 2020

3/20/20
Dear Winchester residents,
As a follow up to the mailed newsletter from town government, we will be updating you regularly on what the town is doing to help its residents in this pandemic. Please visit the CDC website or watch your local news to get correct and current information on the COVID-19 virus. The state has also set up a hotline. Please dial 211 on your phone.
We want to remind residents to stay calm and reach out to your neighbors (by phone) to see if they are ok or need anything. The best of line of defense is social distancing, handwashing and staying home when you are sick. A reminder: our local businesses are open so please support them, notably the restaurants who are now offering take out and delivery. Pastor Worrall is hosting a prayer service in the town park by the gazebo on Sunday’s afternoon to lift your spirits. But please remember no groups over 50 persons and stay 6ft apart. The St. Vincent’s DePaul Catholic church food pantry on Richmond Road is taking food donations. Please leave them in the breezeway between the church and the house. They are doing curb side service for distribution. You must meet the guidelines established to qualify see details on our website under community.
The town hall building will be closed to the public starting Monday March 23rd until further notice BUT all departments will be there to serve you. We can be contacted by phone or email and offering curbside service for all your needs. When determined necessary, on a case by case basis, residents may be allowed to enter to finalize a registration transaction or other similar transactions. Registrations can be done by mail and email. Please call for assistance. The lobby of the Police station is also now closed to the public.
Town employees including first responders, police, fire, water, sewer, transfer station, highway and Selectmen are here to serve you and to ensure our town continues to run efficiently. As stated in the previous newsletter you may reach the town clerk tax/collector at 239-4951 x2 or x4 or by email taxcollector@winchester.nh.gov.
School information and updates will come directly from the school. The town and school are working together in addressing this serious situation.
Also starting sometime next week, we will designate an extension on our phone system so you may listen the updates and information as it changes. This line WILL NOT take messages.
The Board of Selectmen have decided to meet earlier at 5pm on Wednesday’s for their regular meetings and weather permitting, meetings will be conducted outside. Meetings are also being set up to be live streamed over facebook. On advice of town counsel to keep people safe, they are not accepting public comment (to limit public contact) at meetings BUT do look forward to you sending your questions and comments by phone or email so they can be answered. 
It is the goal of the town to keep you posted when we have new information to share, so be aware, updates will only be posted when new information becomes available.
Thank you-