Gov. Roy Cooper held a news conference to speak on today’s announcement about the closure of bars and restaurants for dine-in service. Several key items of note came from the news conference (with many other updates below). But of the key information:
- NC bars and restaurants will be closed to sit-down service. Only take-out and delivery services starting at 5 p.m. today.
- Order does five things for unemployment benefits.
- Removes 1 week waiting period to apply for benefits.
- Removes requirement to look for another job during unemployment.
- Allows employees who lose jobs or have reduced hours to apply for benefits
- Permits applicants to apply for benefits remotely
- Directs employers will not be held responsible for benefits paid based on COVID-19 claims.
- Day cares are not ordered closed, but should follow specific guidance on keeping children, staff and families safe, but no recommendation of closure.
Of note from Gov. Cooper’s news conference:
- 40 cases in 16 counties in state as of this morning, but no diagnosed community spread yet.
- Likely community spread has already happened
- NC bars and restaurants will be closed to sit-down service. Only take-out and delivery services starting at 5 p.m. today.
- “North Carolina must keep fighting this pandemic with the right weapons.”
- “Please know that grocery stores will remain open. … Urge people not to go overboard. Leave some for others.”
- “I recognize that this decision will cost people their jobs. This order also provides them some relief.”
- Order does five things for unemployment benefits.
- Removes 1 week waiting period to apply for benefits.
- Removes requirement to look for another job during unemployment.
- Allows employees who lose jobs or have reduced hours to apply for benefits
- Permits applicants to apply for benefits remotely
- Directs employers will not be held responsible for benefits paid based on COVID-19 claims.
- Anticipate additional help coming for businesses from Federal Government.
- “I know some people are afraid. Some are angry. Many are worried. We will get through this,” Cooper said.
- “Some things are just gonna have to change for a while.”
- “We will learn from this and we will be better than we were before.”
- DR. MANDY COHEN: “Our goal is to slow the spread of the infection so fewer people get sick at the same time.” to help ease the strain on hospitals and medical personnel.
- Cohen: North Carolina executive order stays at gatherings of 100 people or fewer, but guidelines for social distancing should be followed.
- Cohen: Testing being done by state, hospitals, testing labs and many others. Will continue to grow.
- Cohen: Access to testing will expand at additional sample collection sites.
- Cohen: If you have symptoms, call your doctor first. If you don’t have one, call your health department. Do not go to the location first.
- Cohen: Most people who get the virus will not need medical care. But helping to safeguard those who will is important.
- ERIC HOOKS, Department of Public Safety: “We are not taking anything for granted. … Our state emergency response is strong in North Carolina.”
- Hooks: Please lean on only trusted sites for information.
- Cooper: “We know that our small businesses are going to need relief.” Expect much of that to come from Federal government.
- Cooper: Other types of businesses can still operate, but changes could come. Hopefully most businesses will voluntarily follow guidelines in place and mandatory closures won’t be required.
- Cooper: Day cares not ordered closed, but should follow specific guidance on keeping children, staff and families safe, but no recommendation of closure.
- Cohen: On day cares – “There is no right or wrong answer. The reality is that we need them. … We are working hard to give them the best guidance possible that they can take.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
Governor Roy Cooper has issued an order that all restaurants and bars must close dine-in services, but can continue take-out and to-go orders.
The Governor issued an advisory saying that at today’s 2 p.m. media briefing, he will announce “a new executive order in response to COVID-19 that closes restaurants and bars for dine-in customers but allows them to continue takeout and delivery orders. The executive order will also include an expansion of unemployment insurance to help North Carolina workers affected by COVID-19.”
The order is expected to be effective by 5 pm today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020.