Coronavirus: 9 Summit County departments staffing essential personnel only

Nine Summit County departments will only staff essential personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the rest of the employees in those departments shifting to paid administrative leave.

The departments include Administrative Services; Administration and Public Information; Community and Economic Development; Sanitary Sewer Services; Finance and Budget; Human Resources; Job and Family Services; Law, Insurance and Risk Management; and Medical Examiner.

All essential staff who currently have the capability to work from home will do so starting Thursday.

The nine departments include 147 nonessential employees, 448 essential employees working on site and 101 essential employees working from home.

The county has ordered an additional 135 work stations allowing additional employees to work from home.

The changes are "intended to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while still maintaining the continuity of necessary county services and functions," a news release said.

"The health and safety of my staff and the public we serve is my number one priority," Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro said in a statement. "It is my intention to continue all county services while providing options for my employees that allow for social distancing, telecommuting and work from home capabilities as we make every effort to help flatten the curve."

Earlier this week, the county suspended public access at Job and Family Services, the OhioMeansJobs Center, Sanitary Sewer Services, Animal Control and Building Standards.

The county's fiscal office, clerk of courts and engineer's office, which do not fall under the executive's office, have also suspended public access.

County residents can continue to access services in the following ways:

Job and Family Services: Documents and correspondence can be uploaded at summitdjfs.org, faxed to 866-351-8292, dropped in the exterior drop box at the South Main Street location, or mailed to 1180 S. Main St., Suite 102, Akron, OH, 44301-1256. To apply for, renew or update cash, food, medical or child care assistance, call 1-844-640-6446 or apply online at Benefits.Ohio.gov. To report abuse, neglect or exploitation of seniors, call 330-643-7217.

Unemployment Benefits: Residents can apply online at unemployment.ohio.gov or call 1-877-644-6562 or TTY 1-614-387-8408 (excluding holidays) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The state is suspending the requirement to come into an OhioMeansJobs Center to begin a job search once a claim is filed.