Responding to Coronavirus and COVID-19 in Rochester
Information on the City of Rochester's response to the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 can be found on this page.
State of Emergency Declared March 16
Mayor Lovely Warren declared State of Emergency on March 16, which will significantly alter City of Rochester operations. For a full list of how the State of Emergency will affect operations, click here>>
New York State on Pause
On March 22, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the "New York State on PAUSE" executive order, a directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions. Citizens may report businesses not following the Governor's Executive Order by calling the NYS Attorney General's Office at 212-416-8700.
Have Questions?
Feeling ill? (Fever, Shortness of Breath, Coughing)
- Call your health care provider right away
- Don’t go to emergency, urgent care or your doctor without calling first
- No health care provider? Call the County COVID-19 hotline at: 753-5555.
Need child care for your family?
Questions about City of Rochester services?
- Call 311 (428-5990 outside city limits)
Need police, fire or ambulance?
Grab and Go Meals During School Closures
The following R-Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday to provide meals to the city’s school-age children:
- Adams Street, 85 Adams St.; (map)
- Ave D, 200 Ave. D; (map)
- Carter St., 500 Carter St.; (map)
- Tyshaun Cauldwell, 524 Campbell St.; (map)
- Frederick Douglass, 990 South Ave.; (map)
- Flint Street, 271 Flint St.; (map)
- David Gantt, 700 North St.; (map)
- Trenton and Pamela Jackson (Clinton-Baden), 485 N. Clinton Ave.; (map)
- Thomas Ryan, 530 Webster Ave. (map)
Children will be served pre-packaged breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.
Meals at Schools
The following Rochester City School District schools will provide grab-and-go breakfast lunch and dinner between 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday:
- East Upper & Lower School, 1801 E. Main St.; (map)
- Dr. Freddy Thomas Campus, 625 Scio St.; (map)
- the former Jefferson High School, 1 Edgerton Pk.; (map)
- James Monroe High School, 164 Alexander St.; (map)
- John Williams School No. 5, 555 Plymouth Ave.; (map)
- Wilson Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee St. (map)
- School #42, 3330 Lake Ave. (map)
Closed R-Centers
The following R-Centers will be closed and staff will be transferred to the open centers to assist with the influx of children.
- Edgerton, 41 Backus St.;
- 17 School, 158 Orchard St.;
- Humboldt, 1045 Atlantic;
- Roxie Sinkler, 75 Grover St.;
- LaGrange, 455 LaGrange St.
New Summer of Opportunity, Youth Employment Submission Process
The Department of Recreation and Youth Services has modified the submission process for documents that youth must supply in order to obtain jobs with the Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP) and the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Learn more>>
Neighborhood and Business Development
The City’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development issued the following customer-service procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Building permits and building-related permits: Forms for Building Permits; Electrical Permits; Elevator Permits; Fire Permits; Plumbing Permits; Re-roof Permits; Certificate of Occupancy Renewal; Zoning Application forms and other permits can be found at www.cityofrochester.gov/buildingpermits/. Download the appropriate form and place them in the City Hall drop box or send by mail to room 125A City Hall, 30 Church St., Rochester NY, 14614. Include checks or money orders for appropriate fees. Do not place cash in any drop boxes.
- Business Permits: Applications and renewal information can be found at www.cityofrochester.gov/businesspermit/. New Business Permits should be placed in the City Hall drop box and Renewal Business Permits should be dropped off at the local Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) office drop box. Good Neighbor Agreements can be conducted by telephone with the NSC offices. Visit www.cityofrochester.gov/nsc for NSC office locations, telephone numbers and email addresses.
- Handicap Parking Permits: Applications can be found at www.cityofrochester.gov/handicapparking/ and placed in the local Neighborhood Service Center Office drop box along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID. Photos of the ID can also be emailed to the NSC (such as from a smartphone). Applicants will not be able to enter the offices. The Handicap Parking Permit will be mailed. Visit www.cityofrochester.gov/nsc for a list of NSC locations, emails and telephone numbers.
- Emergency Assistance Repair Grant applications: Forms can be downloaded online at www.cityofrochester.gov/HomeRepairGrants/ and placed in the City Hall drop box or emailed to nbdrehabanddemo@cityofrochester.gov/.
- Homebuyer Assistance Grant applications: Forms can be downloaded online at www.cityofrochester.gov/homebuyer/ or requested by email at homebuyer@cityofrochester.gov/ and placed in the City Hall drop box. No photo copies can be made by City staff and no originals will be returned.
Latest News
(Friday, March 27, 2020) – In response to Governor Cuomo’s NYS PAUSE executive order, all City of Rochester playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment and athletic fields, including basketball and tennis courts, are closed until further notice. Learn more>>
(Thursday, March 26, 2020) - Due to a number of changes and cancellations that have taken place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the application deadline for individuals and businesses interested in becoming tenants or licensees at La Marketa International Plaza has been extended to April 30, 2020. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, March 24, 2020) – Mayor Lovely Warren today confirmed that the first City employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The part-time employee was involved in the distribution of grab-&-go meals at two city R-Centers. Those R-Centers are Frederick Douglass, 990 South Ave.; and Adams St., 85 Adams St. Learn more>>
(Monday, March 23, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that the Kiva Rochester crowdfunding program is expanding access to interest-free loans to help local small businesses weather the economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more>>
(Saturday, March 21, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that 4th quarter property tax, water and refuse payments are now due April 30. Payments were previously due March 31. Learn more>>
(Friday, March 20, 2020) --– The City of Rochester Parking Bureau is reminding motorists to continue to observe the City’s parking regulations, including alternate-side street parking, during the City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more>>
(Friday, March 20, 2020) -- The Central Library downtown and
all city branch libraries are closed to the public until further notice. All
public service operations are suspended, including curbside pickup and hotspot
distribution. Learn more>>
(Wednesday , March 19, 2020) - For the convenience of its many regular food shoppers, the City of Rochester’s Public Market will remain open with precautionary accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Market’s shopping hours will remain the same: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn more>>
(Wednesday, March 18, 2020) – In response to the closure of libraries throughout the county due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County has added 500 mobile hotspots to enable access to the internet for families who may not have a connection at home. The additional mobile hotspots are now available for residents to borrow from the Central Library. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, March 17, 2020) – The City’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development issued the following customer-service procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, March 17, 2020) – In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Lovely A. Warren is urging all residents to follow specific guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that could potentially carry the virus. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, March 17, 2020) – The Department of Recreation and
Youth Services has modified the submission process for documents that youth
must supply in order to obtain jobs with the Summer of Opportunity Program
(SOOP) and the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Learn more>>
(Tuesday, March 17, 2020) - The Central Library downtown and all Rochester Public Library branches are closed to the public until further notice. During this uncertain time, the libraries are adjusting services to best support our employees, their families, and the library users. - Learn more>>
(Monday, March 16, 2020) -- Mayor Lovely A. Warren has declared a State of Emergency in the City of Rochester beginning today and renewable every five days due to the COVID-19 outbreak.- Learn more>\
Monday, March 16, 2020) -- City Council News Release. The following public meetings, which were previously noticed, will be affected by new public access guidelines. - Learn more>>
(Monday, March 16, 2020) -- All meetings of the Rochester Police Accountability Board (PAB) will be postponed until further notice. Lean more>>
(Sunday, March 15, 2020) — Mayor Lovely A. Warren was joined today by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Rochester City School District Superintendent Terry Dade and Julia Tedesco, Foodlink President and CEO to announce that starting tomorrow, March 16, nine City R-Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday to provide meals to the city’s school-age children. - Learn more>>
(Friday, March 13) -- The Rochester Public Library will suspend library programs at its Central Library and 10 city neighborhood branches from March 16 through March 31. The library branches will remain open during normal hours to provide such services as lending, reference assistance, computer access and in-branch reading. - Learn more>>
(Friday, March 13) In response to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202, and guidance from the Monroe County Department of Health, all meetings of the Rochester City Council will be closed for public attendance until further notice.The Council is committed to transparency and open communication, and will be streaming meetings online, so they are available to the public. Public comments to the Council are welcome and can be shared with the Council by email at Council@cityofrochester.gov or by phone at 585-428-7538. - Learn more>>
(Friday, March 13) - the City Department of Recreation and Youth Services has suspended the issuance of reservations for City lodges and community centers for the months of March, April and May.-- Learn more>>
(Thursday, March 12, 2020) -- The Rochester City Council is cancelling two non-essential Work Sessions today. The Council Committee Meetings, Public Hearings and Confirmation Hearing will occur as scheduled. -- Learn more>>
(Thursday, March 12, 2020) — Following the guidance of the Monroe County Department of Health Department regarding social distancing for gatherings of larger than 50 people, the following events are postponed and/or canceled until further notice. --Learn more>>
Other Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources