Governor Roy Cooper announced today that he has extended the closure of K-12 public schools in North Carolina through May 15 and has ordered hair and nail salons, gyms, health clubs, movie theaters, and other close-contact businesses to close by 5 p.m. Wed., March 25.
The Governor also banned mass gatherings of 50 people or more (down from 100).
See OBX Today for a report of the Governor’s latest executive order at https://www.obxtoday.com/coronavirus/gov-roy-cooper-closes-schools-through-may-15-orders-gyms-hair-salons-movie-theaters-to-close/
OBX Today is also reporting that Dare County Health and Human Services and Vidant Health, which operates the Outer Banks Hospital, declined to release the number of tests performed locally, citing patient privacy. The fact that no one has tested positive for COVID-19 in Dare County may be mostly a function of the number of people who have been tested.
The Governor acknowledged today that a “lack of supplies” from the federal government has delayed the processing of COVID-19 tests in North Carolina.
There are now confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 45 of the state’s 100 counties.
The Beacon will update this post as more news becomes available.
Those of you who are on Facebook may wish to check out the Facebook page of N.C. State Senator Jeff Jackson, of Mecklenburg County, who regularly updates State action related to the coronavirus pandemic.
To see today’s Dare County Control Group bulletin, click here: https://www.darenc.com/Home/Components/News/News/6006/17?backlist=%2fdepartments%2fhealth-human-services%2fcoronavirus.
Dare County Emergency Management continues to encourage all citizens to respect “social distancing” and allow six feet between themselves and other people. There is no word yet on mandatory sheltering in place.
As of Wednesday, CNN reported today, 39 percent of the U.S. population–spread out in 12 states–will be subject to stay-at-home orders.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 3/23/20
The Southern Shores Beacon 