April 23. Gov. Roy Cooper has extended North Carolina’s Stay At Home order through May 8. The orders extending closure of restaurants for dine-in service and bars and closure of other close-contact businesses are also extended through May 8.
Cooper will lift restrictions in three phases once key metrics are headed in the right direction. Information about public schools is expected tomorrow.
“The health and safety of people in North Carolina must be our top priority,” Cooper said. “This plan provides a roadmap for us to begin easing restrictions in stages to push our economy forward.”
Last week, Cooper laid out the path forward centered on three things: Testing, tracing and trends.
The governor and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services, said North Carolina has not yet seen a downward trajectory of those metrics needed to begin gradually lifting restrictions.
Cooper, who said NC can’t “stay at home indefinitely,” said the state needs more time to slow the spread of this virus before lifting restrictions.”
Early action along with staying at home put NC on the right path, Cohen said.
In order to begin lifting restrictions, NC needs to see progress in key metrics:
—Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing over the last 14 days.
—Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is still increasing, although at a slower rate.
—Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is increasing at a slow rate.
—Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is largely level with a slight trend upward.
The state will also continue building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These include:
—Increase in Laboratory Testing
Currently, North Carolina is testing approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people per day and is working to increase to at least 5,000 to 7,000 per day.
—Increase in Tracing Capability
Currently, North Carolina has approximately 250 people doing contact tracing across its local health departments and is working to double this workforce to 500.
—Availability of Personal Protective Equipment
The state is working to ensure there are adequate supplies to fulfill requests for critical PPE for at least 30 days. This includes face shields, gloves, gowns, N95 masks, and surgical and procedural masks. Currently the state has less than 30 days supply of gowns and N95 masks. Availability of PPE is calculated based on the average number of requests for the last 14 days compared to the supply that the state has on hand.
Cooper also shared information about how North Carolina can gradually re-open over three phases to prevent hot spots of viral spread while also beginning to bring our economy back. These phases are based on the best information available now, but could be altered as new information emerges.
—In Phase 1:
Modify the Stay At Home order to allow travel not currently defined as essential allowing people to leave home for commercial activity at any business that is allowed to be open, such as clothing stores, sporting goods stores, book shops, houseware stores and other retailers.
Ensure that any open stores implement appropriate employee and consumer social distancing, enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols, symptom screening of employees, accommodations for vulnerable workers, and provide education to employees and workers to combat misinformation.
Continue to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people
Reopen parks that have been closed subject to the same gathering limitation. Outdoor exercise will continue to be encouraged.
Continue to recommend face coverings in public spaces when 6 feet of distancing isn’t possible.
Encourage employers to continue teleworking policies.
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
Local emergency orders with more restrictive measures may remain in place.
—Phase 2 at least 2-3 weeks after Phase 1
Lift Stay At Home order with strong encouragement for vulnerable populations to continue staying at home to stay safe.
Allow limited opening of restaurants, bars, fitness centers, personal care services, and other businesses that can follow safety protocols including the potential need to reduce capacity
Allow gathering at places such as houses of worship and entertainment venues at reduced capacity
Increase in number of people allowed at gatherings
Open public playgrounds
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
—Phase 3 at least 4-6 weeks after Phase 2
Lessen restrictions for vulnerable populations with encouragement to continue practicing physical distancing and minimizing exposure to settings where distancing isn’t possible
Allow increased capacity at restaurants, bars, other businesses, houses of worships, and entertainment venues
Further increase the number of people allowed at gatherings
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.
