COVID-19 Resources and Information

Date of Release: 
March 19, 2020

Topics on this Pagenumbers and websites

Changes to City Services

Prevention

Wellness Check Phonecall Program

Resources and Quick Links

Small Business Relief Fund and Economic Stimulus Package

Resources and Quick Links

Vaccine Distribution

State of Kentucky Links and Resources

If you have questions about the virus, call Kentucky's COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725.

Health Resources

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (COVID-19)
Kentucky Department of Public Health (COVID-19)

Additional Local Resources

Community Hotline and Reference Guide:  To get contact information for local resources, call 270-444-8800 during City Hall's normal business hours (8 until 4:30).  Leave a message after hours.  Paducah-McCracken County Quick Reference Guide for Resources (PDF)
Links:  United Way of Paducah-McCracken County        Goodwill Industries Kentucky Resources
City's Facebook Page:  A Facebook account is not needed to view the City of Paducah Kentucky Government Facebook page.
Business resources - visit the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Healthy at Work website.

Changes to City Services Based on COVID-19 

Effective October 18, 2021, the City of Paducah is cancelling the Local State of Emergency declared August 10 due to the public health hazard involving COVID-19. 

With the ending of the State of Emergency, the general public and employees are no longer required to wear a facial covering in City of Paducah office buildings including City Hall, the Parks & Recreation Department, Police Department, Public Works, and fire stations.

The decision to end the State of Emergency is in coordination with McCracken County and due to the decline in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.  McCracken County is no longer in the red zone based on its number of positive daily COVID-19 cases.    

City Hall, 300 South 5th Street 

  • City Hall is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for all customers.  No appointment is necessary.  Call the Customer Experience Department at 270-444-8800 if you have a question.
  • Customers who have a fever or are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms are requested to avoid visiting City Hall.
  • The drop-box located next to the 5th Street door of City Hall is available to drop off payments and correspondence.    

Playgrounds  and Parks (additional rules posted at each park)

Playgrounds managed by the Paducah Parks & Recreation Department have signage with rules and recommendations including information about the maximum capacity of the playground area.  This maximum capacity number includes the children playing and the supervising adults. The Parks & Recreation Department also recommends the wearing of face coverings for people at least two years of age, practicing social distancing of at least six feet, and washing and sanitizing hands frequently. 

Independence Park located at the corner of Lone Oak Road and Alben Barkley Drive is open daily with a limit of 10 people in the park at a time.  To maintain social distancing, only one person should enter or exit the gate at a time.  Dogs must be leashed as required at other City of Paducah parks in ordinance with Code of Ordinances Chapter 14. 

Stuart Nelson Dog Park is limited to no more than 10 people at one time inside each dog park.  Face masks are recommended for dog owners. Please maintain social distancing and only one person should enter or exit the gates at a time.  If people are waiting, limit your park time to one hour or less.

Skatepark at Noble Park is limited to 10 participants or fewer at a time.  Please maintain social distancing.  No spectators inside skatepark fencing, and masks are recommended for spectators.  If people are waiting, limit your time in the skatepark to one hour or less.

Basketball Courts are open to the public at Bob Noble Park, Robert Coleman Park, and Voor Park.  Please follow posted rules and guidelines.  There is a limit of 6 people at one time per half court, and a limit of 10 for full court play.  Spectators must remain on the court’s perimeter and remain outside the fencing at Noble Park.

Parks & Recreation Department Offices at 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive are closed to the public.  Call 270-444-8508 for assistance.

Public Works Department

  • All garbage needs to be contained in the rollout.  Employees are not be touching trash bags or items left beside the rollout.  If you have excess garbage, call 270-444-8511 and crews will make an additional collection at no charge.  Bulk items such as couches and chairs still will be collected.  For commercial customers, all garbage needs to be contained in the dumpster.
  • Compost Facility is open on a reduced schedule.  

Prevention - Social Distancing is the Best Tool

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure to the virus and practice social distancing.  The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases which includes COVID-19. 

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects such as cell phone and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.  If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Small Business Relief Fund and Economic Stimulus Package (Concluded in 2020)

Small Business Relief Fund:  Small for-profit businesses, that are not a franchise or franchise-affiliated, with 25 or fewer employees and a brick-and-mortar presence within the Paducah city limits were invited to apply for funds through the Small Business Relief Fund.  The application period was April 1 through April 10.  The City provided $150,000 for the first round of applicants for the Program which provided each of the 75 businesses in the first round a $2000 check. The funds must be used for expenses limited to rent, mortgage, payroll, and utilities.  If you are a business and have questions about the application process, call the City of Paducah Planning Department at 270-444-8601. 

The City also committed to match community donations up to $100,000 for additional rounds of funding.  On May 15, the second round of funding was distributed to the next 50 eligible businesses that applied during the application period.  The third round of funding is being distributed July 10 to 22 businesses.

First Round Businesses (List of 75) - Small Business Relief Fund Recipients
Second Round Businesses (List of 50) - Small Business Relief Fund Recipients
Third Round Businesses (List of 22) - Small Business Relief Fund Recipients
Frequently Asked Questions for Small Business Relief Fund

To donate to the Small Business Relief Fund, visit the Community Foundation of West Kentucky website, call 270-442-8622, or mail your donation to Community Foundation of West KY, Attention: Small Business Relief Fund, P.O. Box 7, Paducah, KY  42001. This is a partnership among the City of Paducah, West Kentucky Community & Technical College, and the Community Foundation of West Kentucky. 

The Small Business Relief Fund was based on the findings of the COVID-19 Economic Impact Survey for Businesses that was developed by the City's Planning Department. The deadline to complete the 11-question survey was noon on March 26. Businesses inside and outside the Paducah city limits participated. 

Deadline Changed for Business License Tax Filing:  Postpones the filing of the annual Gross Receipts License Tax (Business License Tax) to July 15, 2020, for calendar year filers.  July 15 is the same deadline that has been adopted recently by the State of Kentucky and the Internal Revenue Service as a replacement for the April 15 deadline. 

Commercial Solid Waste Collection:  Establishes a 50% price reduction for solid waste collection fees for commercial (non-residential) rollouts and commercial dumpsters. This fee reduction is in effect for commercial solid waste collection services during the months of April and May 2020. 

Taxicab Driver’s License Renewal Waiver:  Waives the renewal requirement for taxicab licenses until July 1, 2020.  

Wellness Check Phonecall Program

The City of Paducah has created a COVID-19 Wellness Check Program for people to submit applications for wellness calls to be made to City residents.  Within three days after receiving a Wellness Check Application, city employees in the Customer Experience and Administration departments will call the resident.  

Wellness Checks are offered for time periods Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.   Checks can be daily on the weekdays or once per week on Mondays.  This is a temporary, free service offered by the City of Paducah.