Governor Cooper issues stay-at-home order beginning Monday; coronavirus cases increase

RALEIGH, Wake County — Governor Cooper has issued a stay-at-home order in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Executive Order No. 121will go into effect on Monday at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect for 30 days, but officials say it can be revised or extended.

It directs residents to stay home unless they need to leave for essentials - such as jobs, food, medicine, outdoor exercise, or to help others. Essential services will continue. Gatherings of more than 10 people are also banned, and everyone is directed to stay at least six feet away from each other.

“To continue our aggressive battle against COVID-19, I have signed a Stay at Home Order for the entire state of North Carolina. Though it is difficult we must do this to slow the disease spread,” explains Governor Cooper. “We need our medical system to be able to care for the friends and family we know will become seriously ill from the virus.”

Officials say they are is seeking voluntary cooperation from everyone to ensure health and safety. If voluntary cooperation is not achieved, officials say state and local law enforcement officers have the authority to enforce the executive order.

Cooper adds that North Carolina is now considered to have widespread transmission of the virus, which means people who have tested positive cannot trace where they were exposed to the virus.

“Being apart from family and friends is difficult,” Cooper says. “Losing your job or closing your business has to be difficult. But we have to act now in the safest, smartest way while we have the chance to save lives. It is truly a matter of life and death.”

A list of businesses deemed essential is included in the order, which can be read in its entirety online. Businesses that are not included but feel they should be may apply online with the NC Department of Revenue to be designated essential.

A list of frequently asked questions and more information can be found online.

Groups representing hospitals and doctors had urged the governor to issue statewide stay-at-home or shelter-in-place directives earlier in the week. They say they were worried an expected surge in cases could overwhelm hospitals and endangered health care workers.

North Carolina's confirmed coronavirus case count is up to 763 as of Friday, with more reported fatalities from the illness.

The death of a Johnston County resident on Thursday brings the number of deaths reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services to three. The patient, in their mid-60s, had underlying medical conditions, Johnston County said in a news release. Cabarrus and Harnett county residents also have died. A fourth person from Virginia who died of COVID-19 complications in North Carolina is not in the state’s official count.

On Friday night, the Rowan County Health Department confirmed that a county resident who tested positive for COVID-19 has died. The patient was in the high risk category due to age and underlying medical conditions.

More than 75 people are hospitalized statewide, according to the department.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says, so far, 15,136 tests have been completed.

Meanwhile, Pitt County officials say there are currently 11 cases of the coronavirus in the county.

Carteret County has confirmed an additional COVID-19 case, officials announced Friday. They say this brings the total to six confirmed cases in the county, including the two cases that have recovered. The Carteret County Health Department Communicable Disease staff is working to conduct contact tracing.

A fourth case of the coronavirus has been reported in Craven County. Officials say the adult recently moved to Craven County from out of state and was tested at the county's drive-up testing site. The Craven County Health Department says it was notified of the positive case on Friday, and the individual has been in isolation since symptoms began. Officials are working to identify close contacts. Officials say two of the county's other coronavirus cases are considered recovered, and the patients are out of isolation.

“All of the positive COVID-19 cases thus far have been travel-related and at this time, is a good indicator that Craven County does not have community transmission," explains Health Director Scott Harrelson. "I would like to thank the residents of Craven County for following social distance guidelines and for staying home to reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. While we do not see that we have community transmission at this time, this is not the time to stop being cautious."

Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes says the executive order does not mean residents have to lock themselves inside; residents will be allowed to leave their homes if needed.

“We’re not going to be sitting here watching doors, you know if you walk out to your mailbox there’s gonna be an officer there - that’s not what this is about," he explains. "I want to put the people at ease and let them know that we’re here to help them.”

Hughes says his office will intervene if they see large groups outdoors and adds the penalty could potentially be a class two misdemeanor. He knows that the order may seem like an inconvenience, but he says he is optimistic about the future.

“We are going to get through it," he says. "Craven County is going to come back stronger - just like we do every time."

Wake County’s 1.1 million residents will be under a stay-at-home order starting late Friday afternoon through mid-April in an attempt to blunt the virus’ spread, particularly to higher-risk residents. Nearby Orange County also begins an order Friday.

Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, began a similar order Thursday. Guilford, Buncombe and Gaston counties also have issued the directives, as have the cities of Winston-Salem and Durham.

The most recent numbers from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that there have been 85,356 confirmed cases nationwide, with 1,246 deaths.

Governor Cooper's press conference with state health and emergency management officials can be seen in its entirety here:

** The Associated Press contributed to this report. **