Gov. Cooper orders state residents to ‘stay at home’
New policy limits what businesses can remain open, restricts movement
SPARTA-Stay home. That was the order handed down Friday afternoon by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, as cases of COVID-19 continue to spread throughout the state. Now this region of the state is starting to see cases pop up, as earlier on Friday, AppHealthCare announced that one person in Sparta had tested positive for the virus and a fifth case had emerged in Watauga County.
“Some people who tested positive don’t know how they got it,” Cooper said in a press conference. “They didn’t travel anywhere, didn’t come in contact with a known person but now they find themselves sick with the virus. Because there is no vaccination, the best scientifically known way to slow the spread is keeping our distance and staying home.”
Under the new guidelines, which take effect Monday at 5 p.m., residents are ordered to stay home unless going to a doctor’s appointment, getting checked up at the hospital or visiting an essential business. It’s that last part which has people confused, as they’re unclear what’s defined in the order as essential.
It’s a lengthy list, including everything from churches to restaurants and many things in between. Cooper said state officials used the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s own notice as a starting point. As of Monday, in North Carolina essential services will be defined as:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants/coffee shops that offer take-out, drive-thru or delivery
- All post offices
- All houses of worship
- All banks and financial institutions
- All doctors and other healthcare providers
- All hardware stores
- All ABC stores, beer and wine stores
- All pharmacies
- All gas stations and convenience stores
- All hotels, airlines, buses, taxis and rideshare services
- All veterinarians and pet supply stores
- All office supply stores
- All funeral services
- All manufacturing and supply chain operations
- All media operations
Businesses that don’t fall under any groups in that list are asked to either close for the next 30 days or file an appeal with the N.C. Department of Revenue. The department has the authority to name a business as an “essential service” if it determines that would be in the best interests of the state. While the appeal is pending, that company can remain open.
What Happens Next?
As of 3:55 p.m. Friday, there were 763 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina. That includes three deaths and 77 people currently hospitalized. By comparison, there were 636 confirmed cases on Thursday. Cooper and NC Secretary of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen said the rapid spread of the virus is what made state officials order people to remain at home.
“We see cases continuing to rapidly increase,” Cooper said. “We’ve spent time making sure we get this order right. We must act quickly based on what we do know. If we do not act preemptively, many people will get sick at the same time, which will overwhelm our medical system.”
Cooper added that he delayed the order until Monday afternoon to give people time to prepare. He and Cohen also provided information on what exactly is allowed during a ‘stay at home’ order.
First, residents can leave home to care for a family member or friend. You’re also allowed to take supplies to someone who can’t go out on their own. You’re also allowed under the order to go outside, provided that you stay at least 6 ft. away from other people.
“Unless your local jurisdiction has closed parks, people may go to public parks and open outdoor recreation areas while following social distancing and mass gathering guidelines,” the order states. It does however ban all gatherings above 10 people and closes all public playgrounds.
What About Churches?
The question people have most asked NWNC staff involves local churches. Can they still operate? The answer is yes, as they’re considered an essential business. Services must be limited to 10 people in the physical building, however, all standing more than 6 ft. apart. Of course for online services, there are no limits.
“The Order allows individuals to attend their places of worship if they follow the mass gathering ban and do not have more than 10 people assembled,” it states. “Places of worship are encouraged to stream their services online to accommodate people complying with the Order.”
The same goes for weddings, which are allowed, but must be limited to a total of 10 people. Aside from the bride and groom, all of those people must also stand more than 6 ft. apart from each other.
Now if the executive order is violated, officially it would be a Class 2 misdemeanor. Cooper said state officials have given the order out to law enforcement, but are simply asking them to encourage violators to follow the rules, rather than charging them on the first offense. If a person is seen violating the order multiple times, however, then they could be penalized.
“We have to act now in the safest, smartest way while we have the chance to save lives,” Cooper said. “We fight this disease now so we have a better chance of defeating it in the future.”
Brian Carlton is the managing editor of NWNC Magazine. He can be reached at brian.carlton38@gmail.com
