Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday that he has signed an executive order moving NC into phase 1 of easing COVID-19 restrictions. The order begins at 5 pm Friday May 8.
There have been dozens of official actions as the state and federal governments together and separately fight the spread of COVID-19. Here are some of them:
| Date | Level | Topic | Action | Link | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-3 | Federal | Economic Security | Fed cuts interest rates by .5 percent | Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-10 | State | Health | State of Emergency declared | Executive Order #116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-11 | State | Commerce | Price gouging laws in effect | North Carolina’s price gouging laws in effect for coronavirus. What does that mean? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-11 | Federal | Health | Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123) | The U.S. Response to Coronavirus: Summary of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-11 | International | Health | WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic | WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-12 | State | Government | General Assembly cancels committee meetings | NC legislature cancels meetings, lets staffers work remotely amid coronavirus fears | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-12 | Federal | Economic Security | More flexible unemployment insurance | U.S. Labor Department allows jobless benefits for coronavirus | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-12 | Federal | Democracy | US Capitol buildings & offices close | Congress is shutting down the US Capitol and all offices to the public due to coronavirus | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-13 | State | Health | State Health Plan board | State Health Plan Board Approves Emergency Authority to Respond to COVID-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-13 | State | Housing | Duke Energy, Dominion Energy & Piedmont Nat Gas suspend disconnection for nonpayment | Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas halting disconnections for nonpayment amid coronavirus outbreak | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-13 | State | Justice | Court proceedings postponed for 30 days | Chief Justice Beasley Announces Judicial Branch Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-13 | Federal | Health | Federal state of emergency declared | Trump declares national emergency — and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-13 | Federal | Food | Temporary Pause on SNAP waiver rule | Civil Action No. 20-119 (BAH) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-14 | State | Public education | Public School Closures & Ban on gatherings of 100 or more | Governor Cooper Issues Executive Order Closing K-12 Public Schools and Banning Gatherings of More Than 100 People | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-15 | Federal | Economic Security | Federal Reserve cut interest rate to nearly zero, announced quantitative easing, and other measures to boost economy | Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-15 | Federal | Fed boosts liquidity to households & businesses | Federal Reserve Actions to Support the Flow of Credit to Households and Businesses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-17 | State | Unemploy. insurance | Expands unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits for workers affected by COVID-19 | Executive Order #118 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-18 | Federal | Health | H.R. 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act | H.R. 6201, FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-20 | State | Child Care | Waives certain restrictions on child care providers | Executive Order #119 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-20 | State | Taxes | NC Department of Revenue extends tax filing and payment deadline to July 15 | Tax Deadline Extended to July 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-23 | State | Higher Ed | UNC System Extended Spring Break | HEALTH CONCERN: NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) |
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| Mar-23 | State | Public Ed | Continues public school closure through 5/15 unless otherwise extended and mandates the “continued responsibilities” of local DSS offices | Executive Order #120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-25 | State | Omnibus | NC House Select Committee on COVID-19 meets for the first time | House Select Committee on COVID-19 Presentation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-25 | State | Child Care | NC DHHS issued new guidance for child care centers including options for financial assistance to workers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-26 | Federal | FEMA Funding | White House grants Gov. Cooper’s request for federal disaster declaration | North Carolina Receives Federal Disaster Declaration for COVID-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-26 | State | Education | NC House Select Committee on COVID-19 Education Working Group meets for the first time | House Select Committee on COVID-19, Education Working Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-26 | State | Health | NC House Select Committee on COVID-19 Education Working Group meets for the first time | House Select Committee on COVID-19, Healthcare Working Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-27 | Federal | Omnibus | President signs H.R. 748 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act | H.R. 748, CARES Act | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-27 | State | Health | Governor Cooper issues statewide stay-at-home order effective 3/30 – 4/29 | Executive Order #121 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-30 | State | Health | NCDHHS is temporarily increasing benefits for March 2020 and April 2020 to current Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-30 | State | Health | Governor Cooper Signs Executive Order to Get Equipment to Healthcare Workers, Schools, Local Governments | Executive Order #122 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-31 | State | Child Care | Governor Cooper issued Executive Order to extend the term of the North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council through Dec. 31, 2020 | Executive Order #123 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mar-31 | State | Economic Security | Governor Cooper called for restrictions on utility shut-offs, evictions, telecommunication termination, and bank lending | Executive Order #124 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-1 | Federal | Economic Security | US DOL issues updated guidance/FAQs on FFCRA provisions | US Department Of Labor FAQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-2 | State | Justice | Court proceedings postponed until 6/1/2020 | ORDER OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-7 | State | Child Care | NCDHHS providing financial assistance to help essential workers afford child care and bonuses to child care teachers, staff who provide care during the COVID-19 crisis. | NCDHHS to Provide Financial Support to Essential Workers and Child Care Providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-8 | State | Health | Gov. Cooper signs Executive Order 130 to expand health care system capacity and issue new emergency guidelines for childcare | Executive Order #130 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-9 | Federal | Housing | FEMA is providing funds for North Carolina to people exposed to or at high risk of contracting the virus. | FEMA Assistance for Non-Congregate Sheltering | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-9 | State | Health | Governor Cooper signs Executive Order 131–issues stronger social distancing requirements for retail stores still operating, makes earlier COVID-19 guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities and issues changes to speed up certain benefit payments to those who are out of work. | Executive Order #131 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-13 | State | Justice | NC Department of Public Safety will begin to transition incarcerated individuals in state custody to supervision via community corrections officers | Ramping up fight against COVID-19, NC begins releasing some inmates early | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-13 | State | Justice | Chief Justice Beasley Orders New Extension of Court System Deadlines Until June 1, 2020 | Court Filing Deadlines Extended Until June 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-15 | State | Economic Security | NC Division of Employment Security has made more than $100 million in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments. The FPUC program provides an additional $600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits to eligible claimants. | North Carolinians Begin to Receive Additional $600 in Weekly Unemployment Assistance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-17 | State |
Economic Security
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Division of Employment Security plan to have more than three times its original staffing in place to respond to the surge in claims and ensure payments go out as quickly as possible. | North Carolina Department of Commerce increasing DES staffing to address rise in unemployment claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-17 | Federal/State | Food | USDA approved North Carolina’s request to participate in the pilot program to allow SNAP participants to purchase food online | North Carolina added to innovative SNAP online pilot program | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-20 | State | Economic Security | Gov. Cooper signs Executive Order 134–authorizes employers to make COVID-19 support payments to their employees. | Executive Order #134 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-20 | State | Government | House Select Committee on COVID-19 is scheduled to vote on time sensitive matters beginning on April 28th. | House Select Committee on COVID-19 Draft Legislation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-22 | Federal | Food | USDA grants blanket approval for SNAP Emergency Allotments under authority granted in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowing states to provide SNAP Emergency Allotments month-to-month, provided the state fulfills particular requirements. | SNAP COVID-19 Emergency Allotments Guidance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-23 | State | Government | Governor Cooper extends stay-at-home order to May 8th by signing Executive Order 125, and released a three-phase plan for easing restrictions some time after that date based on available data | Governor Cooper Extends Stay At Home Order Through May 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr-24 | State | Government | Governor proposed $1.4 billion COVID-19 relief package, extends school closures through the school year with continued remote learning | Governor Extend Remote Learning Through End of 2019-2020 School Year, Proposes $1.4 billion COVID-19 Relief Package | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May-4 | State | Government | North Carolina General Assembly passed and the Governor signed two bills responding to COVID-19. | Governor Cooper Signs COVID-19 Relief Bills Into Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||
