North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a nightly curfew will be put in place for the state amid rises in new COVID-19 cases and other increasing statewide trends.
Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said the record-breaking single-day reports of new cases and hospitalizations of North Carolinians are leading to the change. 48 counties in the state are now listed as experiencing “critical” community spread, up from 20 counties two weeks ago. Cohen said Tuesday any potential spread of COVID-19 from Thanksgiving gatherings may also not be reflected in these trends, indicating further worsening of trends could be seen.
“What we saw last week in our numbers, I think was likely those who went to Thanksgiving already sick,” she said. “What I expect to see this week is people now coming back COVID-positive because they were with those who were sick during the holiday. I do expect our numbers to go up over the course of this week. We need to work exceptionally hard to get our numbers back down.”
As a result, Cooper announced a modified stay-at-home order for the state, implementing a curfew for North Carolinians and asking them to remain at residences from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies. Most businesses will also be required to close at the 10 p.m. and all on-site alcohol sales for restaurants must be ended at 9 p.m.
The executive order’s early closure does not apply to businesses that sell groceries, medication, fuel, or health care supplies. Those who are traveling to and from work or obtaining food, medical care, fuel and social services past 10 p.m. will also be exempt from the stay-at-home order.
Cooper described the current spread of COVID-19 in the state as “alarming.” He described this new measure as a step to limit gatherings and keep people where they are safest during this new surge of cases.
“I know that news of effective and safe vaccines has given us all hope,” said the governor, “but vaccines aren’t here yet. We have to act now to save lives, safeguard our hospital capacity and preserve our economy.”
When asked about the effectiveness of curfews in other states during this pandemic, Cooper cited similar legislation enacted by Massachusetts and Ohio as having “some success.” He said whenever people have reduced their time indoors with others, a difference in the virus’ spread is seen.
“I think most North Carolinians want to do the right thing,” said Cooper. “If we’re saying it’s really important for you to be home after 10 p.m. and not to be gathering in other places, I think a lot of North Carolinians will do that. We have other things we can do, we have more tools we can use to fight the spread of this virus. But we think if we do this and people abide by it, then it’ll make a positive difference.”
Tuesday marks the first day the state government has moved back a portion of the state’s reopening since Phase 1. The governor extended Phase 3 several times to monitor the coronavirus’ spread and implemented a statewide mask mandate for when people are away from their residences.
Cooper’s new executive order will go into effect Friday, December 11, and is initially slated to last until January 8.
Photo via the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
