ROCKINGHAM — “Some things are going to have to change for a while,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during a press conference Tuesday regarding the state’s actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the conference, the governor’s office announced that his latest executive order will close all bars across North Carolina and relegate restaurants to take-out and delivery service only effective at 5 p.m.
Cooper said the measure comes after some failed to follow guidance to keep people separated.
No time frame on the closure was given.
Some restaurants in Richmond County announced they would be doing just that as early as Monday and one local bar voluntarily closed.
Other businesses are also taking measures to adhere to social distancing guidelines. DR Pharmacy in downtown Rockingham spent the first half of Tuesday making deliveries to customers and served others at the door during the afternoon.
Cooper added that grocery stores and pharmacies across the state will remain open.
The governor said these trying times would be a hardship for not only the restaurant owners, but also for the employees and customers.
To help those who will be out of work, Cooper’s executive order takes down barriers to applying for and collecting unemployment benefits.
The governor said his order:
"These changes are designed to lessen the it on our economy and our workers' wallets," he said. "We know that people want to work and businesses want to stay open. The reality is that many can't."
"At $3.8 billion, North Carolina has one of the largest unemployment reserves in the country," Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said in a statement. "Reforms put in place years ago helped build that large balance to allow the state to adjust its benefits program in response to an economic downturn."
The governor expects additional help from the federal government.
One Monday, he sent a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration requesting a disaster declaration for business owners facing losses due to the coronavirus.
“The state is currently sustaining severe economic impacts from this pandemic,” Cooper said in a letter. “Many of our schools and universities have limited operations and major events have been canceled. These economic injuries and losses to businesses have just begun and will continue through this crisis. The impact of these losses is being calculated and based on current conditions I can certify that many small businesses have suffered substantial losses and need financial assistance not otherwise available on reasonable terms.”
Cooper said nothing else changes from the executive order issued on Saturday.
State Health Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said that includes keeping the mass gathering limit at 100, instead of reducing it to the CDC’s recommendation of 50 or President Donald Trump’s suggestion of 10.
But that could change in this “fluid situation.”
The mass gatherings limit applies to churches and funerals, but not to airports and retail establishments.
When questioned on enforcement, Cooper said, “No one wants to enforce these kinds of orders,” adding that with public health at stake, he hopes state residents will voluntarily comply.
Cooper opened the press conference announcing that the state has 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“We know that there will be many more to come,” he said, adding that the good news is that there are no deaths to report.
The governor added that all cases can be traced to outside of the state or contact with a known positive person.
“However, we know that this will change,” he said. “It is likely we already have community spread which is yet to show up in the testing and we know that more people will get sick and that lives are in danger. Therefore, reasonable and strong actions are needed now.”
Cohen said that there have been 1,100 tests completed in the state and there are thousands more that have been collected. She added that the state is working to expand sample collection sites.
“Ramping up testing is important for where we are right now,” Cohen said. “The level of intensity of testing will change as we move through our response. Testing will become less important at later stages of responding to COVID-19.
“As we weather this pandemic together, remember that the actions we take now are so that fewer people get sick at the same time, so that those that need more serious medical care will have it.”
Cohen also reminded North Carolinians that most people who get the virus will not need medical care.
“All of these measures remind us that our lives are connected and interdependent, which is probably the hardest part of what we are being asked to do,” she said. “We need to take a step back, at least physically, from the many things that give us joy and support.
“We have a responsibility to do all we can to protect our loved ones and our neighbors who are older who have underlying health conditions.”
Cohen encouraged residents to continue to follow social distancing and other healthy practices including washing hands, staying six feet apart and practicing respiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow and those with weakened immune systems should remain vigilant.
The N.C. DHHS website has a list of guidelines for residents and those in certain sectors.
“Just as we act together,” she said, “we will get through this together.”
