News

Cooper issues statewide stay-at-home order

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 27, 2020

Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday issued a statewide stay-at-home order, effective 5 p.m. Monday.

The state has 763 cases in 60 counties. "This is a highly contagious virus that's deadly for some," he said. "It's what we have to do to save lives. It has the force of law."

North Carolina is now considered by the CDC to have widespread transmission," he said. "Because there is no immunity, because there is no vaccination, the best scientifically proved way to slow the spread is by keeping our physical distance by staying at home."

He said he understand that loss of jobs is difficult but that the stay-at-home order is needed so North Carolinians can get back to a normal life with as little loss of death as possible. 

"It is truly a matter of life and death," he said. "We fight this disease now so that we're better able to defeat it in the future."

The statewide order came hours after the Henderson County Board of Commissioners issued its own stay-at-home order with similar rules and exceptions. The county order is effective at noon Saturday.

Cooper's decision drew bipartisan support.

“We are all in this together, and in order to protect the health of North Carolinians and get through this crisis as quickly as possible, we must all do our part to contain community spread over the next several weeks," U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said. "I’ve had discussions with Governor Cooper about the challenge of protecting both the physical and economic health of the state, and the Governor made the difficult, but correct decision to issue a statewide stay-at-home order.

“I’m glad this order allows essential industries to continue their important work while also providing flexibility to North Carolina businesses that are able to practice social distancing and maintain a safe and healthy work environment to protect their employees and the general public.”