Spokane City Hall will be closed to the public starting Friday.

Mayor Nadine Woodward announced the closure Thursday in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among city employees and the public.

The closure will allow more city employees to work from home, according to a press release issued by the city of Spokane.

“This is a tough decision. In order to maintain our public services, we need to direct our citizens to interact with us through online and phone services,” Woodward said in a statement. “We are committed to delivering the services that our citizens rely on every day.”

The building lobby will remain open for deliveries and the building will continue to host the public meetings of government boards and commissions, including the Spokane City Council. Earlier this week, members of the City Council expressed hesitance to cancel meetings despite the increasing challenge of meeting public health guidelines, including limiting gatherings to fewer than 50 people.

Many of the services the city provides can be accessed online.

The My Spokane 311 customer service center on the ground floor of City Hall will no longer be open to the public. Several of its functions, including utility bill paying and reporting potholes, can still be done online at the city’s website or through the mobile app.

The Development Services Center desk at City Hall will also close to walk-in patrons. Nonurgent building inspections will be rescheduled and city staff will meet with prospective developers virtually. Permitting staff can be reached electronically or by phone.