RICHMOND – Richmond City Council joined communities across the nation in declaring a COVID-19-induced state of emergency.

The declaration lets the city engage the emergency operation plan, City Manager Tonya Willim said. “It opens you up to make decisions faster,” Willim said, such as advancing sick leave for employees. “It gives you the ability to perform duties here and now versus having to wait for a council meeting.”

This is unchartered territory for many cities, she said. “We’re in so many unknowns at the moment,” she said.

The declaration also means the city can receive funds to address virus-related costs, Willim said.