Hall County court officials said they are taking no chances after a family member of a court employee tested positive for coronavirus Thursday. Northeastern Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kathlene Gosselin signed an order at 9:32 p.m. Thursday, March 26 calling for the closure of the courthouse building.
Court Administrator Jason Stephenson said in a telephone interview that court officials were made aware Thursday night that the family member had tested positive for COVID-19. The family member had not been to the courthouse.
"No visitor, no employee at the courthouse has exhibited any symptoms whatsoever - that we know of - or tested positive, and the employee whose family member tested positive did not have any contact with the public," Stephenson said.
Stephenson said court officials had made a decision Wednesday to put stricter screening policies in place at the courthouse, so there was already a plan to deep clean the courthouse over the weekend. The report of the positive test pushed them to close early out of an abundance of caution.
"This gives us a chance to do some additional disinfecting in the building, implement the additional screening measures that we [approved] this week and then we'll re-open on Monday," Stephenson said.
For Friday only, the Clerk of Court's office is operating out of the Deed room in the Courthouse Annex.
