Stay-at-home. That’s become the new normal, as we work to flatten the curve against the coronavirus.
The problem is, there are multiple stay-at-home orders, and knowing which one to actually follow can be confusing. Between the state, your county, and maybe even your city, which one do you actually have to follow?
What happens if a mayor lifts the stay-at-home order, but governor's order is still in effect until the end of the month?
RELATED: Q&A with Gov. Cooper: When will students go back to school and will stay-at-home order be extended?
It may seem confusing, but the answer is actually pretty simple. You follow whatever the most restrictive requirement is.
We talked to Don Campbell, the Guilford county emergency management director. He said, regardless of who signed the most restrictive order, whether it be a mayor, the county commission, or the governor the most restrictive is what is enforced.
Here’s an example. Guilford county doesn't allow travel for church services, but the governor's order allows it. So, if you live in Guilford county, there is no travel for church service allowed.
On the other side, Guilford county allows hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot to be open. The governor's orders restrict the number of people that are allowed inside. So even if you live in Guilford county, those stores will still restrict the amount of people allowed inside.
Individual stay-at-home orders:
FACTS NOT FEAR
Remember facts, not fear when talking about the coronavirus. You should take the same measures recommended by health leaders to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses. That means washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and covering coughs and sneezes.
WHERE YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about the coronavirus is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media.
NC CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
The state also has a special hotline set up where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk with someone about the virus.
You can also text keyword VIRUS to WFMY News 2 at 336-379-5775 to find out more information.