Wake County is closing all county offices in four of its downtown Raleigh buildings on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and Wednesday, Jan. 20, out of an abundance of caution.
They include the:
- Wake County Courthouse;
- Wake County Justice Center;
- Wake County Office Building; and
- Wake County Public Safety Center.
“We’re taking this proactive step, because we’ve heard the widespread calls for protests next week amidst the presidential inauguration,” said Wake County Manager David Ellis. “The safety of our residents and our employees is our top priority and based on the proximity of these buildings to the State Capital, we feel this is the appropriate action to take.”
At this time, the Wake County Courts leadership team has not determined if it will cancel court proceedings and close court offices next week in downtown Raleigh.
As a result of the county’s ongoing response to COVID-19, most non-public safety staff in these buildings are already working remotely, and the impact on public services should be minimal. Residents who need assistance can visit wakegov.com or call specific departments.
These closures will not impact the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts or any Wake County locations outside of downtown Raleigh. All county COVID-19 testing sites and vaccine appointments will continue as scheduled.
Wake County will continue working closely with local and state public safety agencies to communicate and coordinate efforts over the coming days. All public-facing county offices are scheduled to be closed on Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
