Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 3500; Flight Crew Type 700
Confusion
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
After completion of maintenance; flight check to determine if ELT would activate erroneously during flight. ZZZ Tower operating under COVID-19 with restricted staffing closed the Tower at XA:00 and advised that airspace was reverting to Class E.Traditional Squawk for pattern operations is XXXX without ATC approval. Very confusing as to use without tower operating. Did one circuit with Squawk of XXXX and determined no ELT issues.  After discussion determined that may have not followed proper guidelines that were established for COVID-19 restricted operations by not contacting ATC for another squawk code after Tower closure. Have reviewed and implemented process to assure compliance until normal Tower operations resume.
Pilot reported the Tower closed due to COVID-19 staffing; and was not sure as to what they should be squawking.