GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County, Greensboro, and High Point officials have now issued a Stay-at-Home order effective Friday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. The order will remain in effect through Thursday, April 16 for residents in Greensboro, High Point and in Guilford County.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, High Point Mayor Jay Wagner, Guilford County Commissioners Chairman Jeff Phillips addressed citizens during the briefing.
“This Stay-at-Home order requires Greensboro residents to stay home in an effort to reduce exposure and flatten the curve to reduce community spread and hospital admissions,” said Mayor Vaughan. “This decision was not an easy one. I have relied on the advice of our medical community, especially our local Cone Health System and its CEO, Terry Akin.”
City leaders said the order is to keep residents at home, avoiding normal day-to-day activities, business, and trips beyond what is needed to take care of essential services and activities. Residents are allowed to go to grocery stores, pharmacies, health care appointments, and outdoor exercise while maintaining proper social distancing. Restaurants are also permitted to offer take-out and delivery service.
Click this link to find a full list of businesses considered essential. City and county leaders are also taking questions about the stay-at-home order. The phone number is 336-641-7527. You can find an email address on the city's website.
This comes after county officials announced yesterday new restrictions to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people.
Forsyth County and the City of Graham have also issued a stay-at-home order.
Other cities and counties across the state are issuing their own mandates. Mecklenburg County, which has the most cases of coronavirus in the state, announced a stay-at-home order yesterday. City of Durham officials did the same today.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has not issued a stay-at-home order for the state at this time but said additional orders are coming. He said he wants to make sure state officials are being deliberate when making these orders.
Stay-at-home orders can vary between local governments and states, but typically the orders are not total lockdowns. People can usually still leave if they're doing "essential" activities such as grocery shopping, going to the doctor, or exercising while practicing safe social distancing.
Certain businesses deemed essential — such as grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and doctor's offices — are typically allowed to remain open. Restaurants offering takeout and delivery options are also typically allowed to keep operating.
We'll find out more about what the stay-at-home order means for Greensboro, High Point, and Guilford County during the briefing at 4 p.m.
More than 500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in North Carolina and two people have died, according to state health officials.
Get the list of what's open and closed right to your phone by texting keyword STAY to 336-379-5775.