Gov. Cooper Passes New Physical Distancing Requirements for Stores, Nursing Homes

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper passed his latest executive order in an effort to protect public health amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday’s executive order, which Cooper announced at a press conference from the state’s Emergency Operations Center, has three elements. The first mandates new policies for retail stores to ensure customers are socially distanced, the second enacts stricter requirements on nursing homes to prevent outbreaks and the third is an effort to get more unemployment claims processed faster.

Cooper shared some of the details of the physical distancing requirements for retail stores.

“Stores may not have a number of people inside at one time that is more than 20% of the stated fire capacity or either 5 people for every 1,000 square feet,” he said. “Stores must also mark 6 feet of distance at places where people need to gather, like checkout lines, and they must perform frequent environmental cleaning and routine disinfection.”

In addition, Cooper said stores must make hand sanitizer readily available for customers, mark aisles as one-way and to set designated times for at-risk residents to shop.

The second prong of the governor’s order is enacting mandatory protective measures for nursing homes, building upon the guidance already issued to skilled nurse institutions and long-term care facilities. The increased measures require closing communal spaces, all staff using face masks and both residents and staff being checked daily for symptoms of COVID-19.

“We’re focusing efforts on these congregant care institutions since the nature of the virus makes them easy targets for outbreaks,” said Cooper.

The requirements become mandated just one day after Cooper and state health officials shared more than 60 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported at a long-term care facility in Orange County, PruittHealth – Carolina Point.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Secretary for North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, said while the order is specifically for long-term care facilities and not adult care homes or assisted living communities, she said the measures are currently targeted for skilled nursing facilities.

“We want them as much as possible to follow these same recommendations, but they are not required at this time,” she said.

The final element of the new executive order allows for unemployment claims to be filed faster, as many North Carolinians have been laid off as restaurants have moved to take-out options and many businesses closed due to the stay at home order.

Cooper said Thursday around 497,000 unemployment claims have been accepted in North Carolina since March 16.

“Time is critical and precious for those who are out of work,” said the governor. “I, my staff, and the Secretary of Commerce, are pushing the [Division of Employment Security] to move as fast as possible. Every claim is important and represents an unemployed worker on the edge. Their families and our economy need these funds as quickly as possible.”

While not part of the executive order, both Cooper and Cohen spoke about the various religious holidays residents will be or already are practicing this weekend. While both stressed the difficulty of being apart from others during such meaningful holidays, they encouraged families and friends to still remain physically distanced from others.

“Our traditions are steeped in being together,” said Cohen. “This year though, the best way we can show our love for our friends and family is to find new ways to be together.”

Cooper’s executive order will go into effect Monday, April 13, at 5 p.m.

Photo via NC Department of Public Safety.

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Gov. Cooper Passes New Physical Distancing Requirements for Stores, Nursing Homes

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