The City of Warren has followed other local, county, state and federal authorities by declaring a state of emergency.

Council approved the measure during a special meeting held on Friday.

Police Chief Brandon Deppen said the county asked each municipality to make the declaration.

He said it is “for administrative purposes only” and will expire when the county lifts its declaration.

This week, public access to the city building has been restricted but departments had been staffed and city government had continued to operate.

That is now changing.

“Today,” City Manager Nancy Freenock said, “I placed on furlough the following positions: Two secretary/clerks in Finance, the DPW (Department of Public Works) secretary/clerk, the director of Building Codes and Recreation Services, that’s department’s secretary and one code official.”

Freenock said that additional lay-offs may follow.

“Until we have more medical information and experience an upswing in the economy, I cannot predict how many city operations will continue to be affected,” she said. “We ask everyone to follow CDC and Pa. DOH (Department of Health) guidance.”