State and local leaders are not in agreement with Governor Cooper’s latest mandate
Governor Roy Cooper announced a modified Stay-At-Home order as of 5:00 pm on Friday to slow the spread of COVID-19. The new Stay-At-Home order pertains to businesses open to the public as well as the citizens of North Carolina. The order requires the businesses to remain closed from 10:00 pm until 5:00 am. and shortens the timeframe on-site alcohol can be sold to 9:00 pm, from the previous order of 11:00 pm.
“Curfews seem to be a bit haphazard at the moment. Individuals are more aware now than ever, that it is our responsibility to wash our hands, social distance, and wear masks when around those we don't live with,” said Representative Chris Humphrey (R - Lenoir, Pitt). “Continuing to punish small businesses is not a ‘dimmer switch’ approach. The mental and economic wellbeing of North Carolinians doesn't seem to matter in these Executive Orders.”
With over 80% of North Carolina counties coded orange or red to signify substantial or critical community spread, the pandemic trends are higher than they have ever been.
Source: NCDHHS
"The seemingly never-ending pandemic continues to take its toll on the health and livelihood of North Carolinians. We are undergoing another surge as we have done already twice this year. If this virus has shown us anything, it is that it is persistently infectious and prevalent,” said Congressmen Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC 3).
Murphy went on to say, “As a surgeon, I am not for doing something just to be doing something. Governor Cooper’s recent increased restrictions seem to be just that. They will, in my opinion, have little, if any, effect on people becoming infected or sick.”
North Carolina Senator Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne) said, “I don’t agree with this approach, but I agree with his concern.”
The impact of the pandemic to North Carolina’s hospital capacity is a metric watched by all the state’s leaders.
“I’m conflicted, I think the Governor would be better off saying he’s unsure of what to do. I’m not sure how to justify the hours on that lockdown,” said Perry. “The one thing I look at is the hospital capacity. I do see the trend lines and the increased number of people that are being hospitalized and those trends do not end overnight.”
The threat of the Stay-At-Home order to small businesses that continue to fuel the economy of North Carolina will be felt with the new restrictions.
“Many businesses, who are holding on by a thread because of the pandemic, to be pushed over the edge into failure and bankruptcy,” said Murphy. “I cannot support baseless business closures that hurt North Carolinians’ lives more than they help. We need to continue to wear masks and socially space as best as we can and then get vaccinated as soon as it becomes available."
The Governor’s Stay-At-Home order does not impact businesses overnight or those not open to the public.
“We need individuals to alter some of their behaviors and be willing to pay attention to how close they are to somebody and wash their hands and be willing to wear masks around other people,” said Perry.
