COVID-19: Modified stay-at-home order goes into effect Friday

Published 1:54 am Wednesday, December 9, 2020

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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper imposed a modified stay-at-home order, effective Friday, Dec. 11.

“North Carolina trends are alarming,” said Cooper.

With the goal of limiting gatherings, North Carolinians need to be at home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Businesses – with some exceptions – need to be closed by 10 p.m. Alcohol sales for on-site consumption is prohibited from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. A document addressing frequently asked questions about the modified order may be found here.

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“We will do more” if our trends do not respond, said the governor. “None of us wants that.”

Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services or to take care of a family member is exempted.

The new rules are found in the Governor’s Executive Order No. 181.

Cooper thanked the frontline health care workers at a media conference Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 8.

On Tuesday, North Carolina reported 4,670 new COVID-19 cases and 2,373 in hospitals. Deaths of North Carolinians from COVID-19 registered 5,606 individuals.

Robert L. Woodard, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, asked that people “please, please do your part.” He urged diligent practice of the 3Ws: wearing masks, waiting six feet apart and washing hands frequently.

Dare County: On Dec. 8, Dare County reported an additional 20 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases bringing the cumulative total to 1,186 positive cases. Now 83 resident cases are active with 78 in home isolation and five hospitalizations.

The additional 20 cases on Dec. 8 numbered 17 residents and three non-residents.

In the state’s County Alert System, Dare County is now painted yellow, showing significant community spread.

Effective Dec. 4, 2020, Dare County is following the new quarantine guidance from the CDC and NC DHHS.

In the general community, quarantine can be ended if any of the following criteria are met:

– 14 days of quarantine have been completed

– 10 days of quarantine have been completed and no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring

– 7 days of quarantine have been completed and no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring and a diagnostic specimen tests negative within 48 hours of the planned quarantine discontinuation (no earlier than day 5 after last contact).

If quarantine is discontinued before day 14, the individual must continue to monitor symptoms and strictly adhere to all non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g. wear a mask, practice social distancing) through 14 days after the date of last exposure.

North Carolina Health and Human Services recommends that a full 14-day quarantine should be strongly considered in congregate living facilities that are at higher risk for secondary clusters or where residents may be at higher risk for severe illness. This includes nursing homes, residential care facilities, and correctional facilities.

Hyde County: In Hyde County on Dec. 8, the total number of cases is 193, an increase of three from the previous report. Five cases are considered active positive. The county notes 183 recoveries and deaths remain at five people. On the state’s new County Alert System, Hyde County is yellow.

Tyrrell County: On Dec. 7, Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reported that Tyrrell County’s total, cumulative case number is now 153, an increase of nine since Dec. 3. Some 139 people have recovered. On Dec. 7, 11 cases were active. Three individuals have died in the county due to coronavirus. On the County Alert System, Tyrrell County is yellow.

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties: On Dec. 8, 2020, Albemarle Regional Health Services published the following case information:

Camden: 208 lab-confirmed cases, with 32 cases now active. Some 172 people have recovered. Camden County has lost four people to the coronavirus. Camden is experiencing substantial community spread noted with orange, which is the middle rating of the three on the County Alert System.

Currituck: 416 lab-confirmed cases. Some 127 cases are active. Currituck County has lost five people to coronavirus. Currituck is yellow on the on the County Alert System.

Pasquotank: 1,194 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 171. Deaths remain steady at 35 people. In the County Alert System, Pasquotank is painted red, signifying critical community spread.

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