Governor Roy Cooper confirmed on Tuesday that North Carolina has 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In a press conference he shared these remarks, “Today we take another step: North Carolina restaurants and bars will be closed to sit-down service and limited to only take-out or delivery orders starting at 5 pm today.

“The good news is that we have no deaths to report, and that all of the cases can be traced to travel outside the state or contact with a known positive person. However, we know this will change. It is likely we already have community spread, which has yet to show up in the testing. And we know more people will get sick and that lives are in danger.

“Reasonable but strong actions are needed now to help suppress the spread of this virus & save lives. Today we take another step: NC restaurants & bars will be closed to sit-down service & limited to only take-out/delivery orders starting at 5 pm today.

“This will be a hardship, not only on the restaurants—many of which have voluntarily closed—but also on their customers who find comfort at their chairs & tables. It will also be a hardship for employees who depend on them for their jobs.

“We did not come to this decision easily. But North Carolina must keep fighting this pandemic with the right weapons.

“On Saturday, I ordered restrictions on large gatherings. There was guidance to restaurants and bars to keep people more separated. I commend those who took that guidance seriously. Unfortunately, some have not. So today, we’re ordering them to close.

“Take-out and delivery will still be allowed, and please know that grocery stores will remain open. I know there is a natural tendency to stockpile food in emergencies, but I urge people not to go overboard. Leave some for others, especially those who can’t afford to buy a lot of food all at once.

“I recognize this decision will cost people their jobs, so this order also brings them some relief. Today I am taking down some of the barriers to unemployment benefits in response to this unprecedented health crisis.

“The executive order does five important things:

1. It removes the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits for those workers who lose their jobs.

2. It removes the requirement that a person must look for another job during this time when so many potential employers are closed and social distancing guidelines are in effect. I know many employers will want to hire many of their employees back when this pandemic subsides.

3. It allows employees who lose their jobs or, in certain cases have their hours reduced due to COVID-19 issues, to apply for unemployment benefits.

4. It waives the requirement that part of the application process be in person.

5. It directs that these unemployment losses won’t be counted against employers.

“These are unsettling times. I know some people are afraid. Some are angry. Many are worried. But we will get through this. You have my personal commitment and the commitment of my administration to work tirelessly and make the very best decisions we can.”

Dr. Mandy Coheen, Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services stated, “There is a lot of confusing information about – starting with mass gatherings. President asked people to limit gatherings to less than 10 people for the next 15 days. CDC recommends that gatherings not exceed 50 people for the next eight weeks. For now, Governor Cooper’s Executive Order will stay at 100 people for what will be enforceable by local law enforcement. So what does that mean?"

“Use good judgment and practice social distancing. Remember that means staying approximately 6 ft away from other people whenever possible. Wash hands, use hand sanitizer & practice proper respiratory etiquette including coughing into your elbow.

“I particularly want to urge folks who are higher risk – over age 65 or have chronic diseases or a weakened immune system – to be particularly vigilant.These current guidelines might change. I know people want definitive answers, but recommendations will change based on the situation in NC & the latest info. This is fluid & requires we adapt quickly.

“Testing - as of this morning, we have 40 positive cases in 16 counties. More than 1100 tests have been completed in NC and thousands more samples have been collected & are in pipeline at labs across NC.

“If someone is experiencing symptoms they think may be due to COVID-19 – fever and cough – they should call their doctor or if they don’t have a doctor they can call their local health department or local community health center. All of this can take a toll on our mental health. So, I want to remind people that support is available and to look for resources on http://www.ncddhs.gov/coronavirus.