Orange County has issued a stay-at-home order effective Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m. to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.

The order will remain in effect until Thursday, April 30 at 5 p.m. The order will be received by county officials will be reviewed periodically to determine whether it should be extended, modified, or rescinded.

“I want to be very clear about this: We need everyone to limit activities outside of the home and to practice social distancing at all times to slow the spread of this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus,” said Quintana Stewart, Orange County Health Department Health Director in the county’s release.

Note: 97.9 The Hill has been Chapel Hill and Orange County’s daily source for free local news since 1953. Please consider making a donation to continue supporting important local journalism like this.

Stay-At-Home Order

The order directs all Orange County residents to stay at home, leaving only for essential reasons, critical to health and safety. If leaving the home, all people should adhere to social distancing policies, including remaining six feet from others (except for those with whom they share a home) and thoroughly and regularly washing hands.

All businesses and not-for-profit entities not expressly exempted in the order must suspend all in-person business operations. Operations that can be conducted online or by phone, or sales that can be facilitated with curbside pickup or delivery only, can continue.

There are exemptions for businesses and entities providing services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. This includes – but is not limited to – health care operations; retail serving essential human needs, like grocery stores, pharmacies and hardware stores; fuel products and supply; news media; maintenance of critical infrastructure; and transportation and critical manufacturing sectors.

Residents Should Remain Home Unless…

  • Going to the doctor or vet (call first to see if you need to be seen or it can wait)
  • Grocery shopping for yourself or others (limit to one trip per week or less if possible)
  • Going to the pharmacy
  • Exercising outdoors (like walking, running, or bicycling, or using, greenways, and trails)
  • Picking up takeout food or using the drive-thru (you can also order delivery)
  • Caring for a friend or family member

Residents Cannot…

  • Go to work unless you are providing essential services
  • Visit friends and family unless it is urgent
  • Gather in public places
  • Visit people in the hospital, nursing home, or other care facilities
  • Travel except for essential travel and activities

Further information regarding Orange County’s stay-at-home order can be found on the county’s website.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County to Follow NC's Phase 1 Guidelines, Ending County Stay-Home Order
Orange County will end its stay at home order on Friday, May 8, to allow residents to fully comply with state guidance as it enters Phase 1 of gradual reopening. The county shared a release on Wednesday acknowledging it will let the county order expire, but reminding residents they still fall under the statewide stay […]
Orange County Not Hosting COVID-19 Testing on Election Day
The Orange County Health Department will not host its daily COVID-19 testing event on Election Day. The county has begun its free daily testing event — held Monday through Friday at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, no testing will be available on Tuesday during Election Day. WEEKDAY TESTING […]
Orange County Health Department to Offer Free Daily COVID-19 Tests
Beginning next week, the Orange County Health Department will offer free COVID-19 tests to all residents who need one. Tests will be available at the Whitted Human Services Building (300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day beginning on Monday, October 26. The only day when tests will not be […]
Orange County Hosting Weekly COVID-19 Testing Event in Chapel Hill
The Orange County Health Department has announced a weekly COVID-19 testing event that will take place every Wednesday in Chapel Hill. The testing event will take place every Wednesday for the foreseeable future from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the R-7 parking lot at 725 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Chapel Hill. Anyone […]
Orange County Recommends UNC Begin Fall Semester Virtually, Restrict On-Campus Housing
The Orange County Health Department is recommending that UNC consider begin the fall 2020 semester with virtual classes and restrict on-campus housing to at-risk students with housing needs. Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart said in a July 29 letter to campus leadership that she “received a massive amount of emails from community members, UNC […]
Orange County Artists Create Posters Encouraging Face Mask Wearing
A trio of Orange County artists have created posters featuring Princess Leia, Darth Vader and other cultural icons aimed at encouraging the public to wear face masks. The #MaskUpOCNC public health campaign features the poster series and corresponding social media campaign will encourage residents to “mask up” in compliance with state and county mandates surrounding […]
Orange County Sees Large Increase in COVID-19 Cases Heading Into Fourth of July Weekend
Like the rest of North Carolina, Orange County continues to see an increase in its positive COVID-19 cases heading into the Fourth of July weekend. According to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the county recorded 30 new cases on Friday. This brings the total within Orange County to 745 […]
Trump Allies Lining up Doctors to Prescribe Rapid Reopening
Republican political operatives are recruiting “extremely pro-Trump” doctors to go on television to prescribe reviving the U.S. economy as quickly as possible, without waiting to meet safety benchmarks proposed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The plan was discussed in a May 11 conference […]
Chapel Hill, Carrboro Mayors Recommend Face Coverings, but No Requirement
The City of Durham has been requiring residents to wear face coverings when out in public in an effort to fight COVID-19 since April. But it’s not likely the same legislation will be passed for the towns of Orange County for now. While all levels of government within Orange County have routinely recommended residents to […]
Orange County Animal Services Launches Pet Food Assistance Program
Orange County Animal Services announced a new way to help pet owners who may be struggles to make ends meet amid the coronavirus pandemic. The department shared on Thursday plans for its new Pet Food Assistance Program. According to a release from Animal Services, the program was created to assist county residents who have lost […]
›