With no increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Dare County, today’s COVID-19 emergency bulletin focuses on lifting the County’s entry restrictions.
“When implemented,” Bulletin No. 44 states, “it is likely that a staged entry process will be implemented to allow non-resident property owners entry before allowing entry to visitors.”
(See The Beacon’s 4/15/20 posts on this subject for more information.)
To access the bulletin, go to https://www.darenc.com/Home/Components/News/News/6147/1483
Both Governor Cooper’s Stay-at-Home order and Dare County’s Stay Home-Stay Healthy order are effective through April 29, at which time they can be continued, modified, or rescinded.
“As April 29 approaches,” Bulletin No. 44 states, “the Control Group will continue to have serious discussions about ways to most effectively balance the health of our community [with] the economic impacts, in order to make decisions that are in the best interest of all. Local officials have begun those discussions regarding the timeline for entry to the County.”
It continues: “As decisions on entry are made, consideration is being given to the Governor’s actions regarding the state’s Stay at Home order, the scientific data including trends and models that are frequently changing, the capacity of local health providers, and the ability of local merchants to provide essential goods and services.”
Not surprisingly, Dare County is aligning with the state and looking to Governor Roy Cooper for guidance. (See The Beacon’s column from earlier today about the Governor’s path to reopening North Carolina.)
One Southern Shores Town Council member told The Beacon this morning that Council members are being “inundated” with emails from non-resident property owners, who have been barred entry to Dare County since 10 p.m. on March 19.
Mayor Tom Bennett, along with all other town mayors, is a member of the Dare County Control Group, which is chaired by Bob Woodard, chairperson of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.
The bulletin also reports that two more Dare County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered or are asymptomatically cleared, bringing that total to 13. One person who tested positive never had symptoms, and the 15th person died.
2020 CENSUS: Dare continues to encourage residents who have not responded to the U.S. Census questionnaire to complete the form online at my2020census.gov, using your physical street address, or to call 1-844-330-2020 (English) or 1-844-468-2020 (Spanish).
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 4/16/20
The Southern Shores Beacon 
Control Group. I didn’t see ‘Control Group’ on the ballot during the last couple of elections. I certainly didn’t vote for a town mayor to tell me what I can and cannot do.
Executive Orders were never intended to be used to make law. The Constitution prohibits that – clearly.
LikeLike