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Governor Roy Cooper:

“Good afternoon. Thank you for joining for today’s update on COVID-19 in North Carolina. We continue to mourn the passing of more North Carolinians due to this coronavirus. We have confirmed 764 cases in 61 counties throughout our state. As expected, our numbers continue to increase rapidly. This is a highly contagious virus that can be deadly for some.

“To continue our aggressive battle to slow the spread of COVID-19, today I have signed a Stay At Home order for the entire state of North Carolina. Enforcement begins at 5 p.m. Monday. It is what we have to do to save lives. It has the force of law. This order directs you to stay home unless you need to leave for essentials, such as your job, food, medicine, outdoor exercise, or to help others.

“It bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to stay at least six feet away from each other. This is known as social distancing, but really it is physical distancing. The order allows essential services to continue and directs that those businesses that need to remain open use a strong social distancing policy.

“These are tough directives, but I need you to take them seriously. Although we are physically apart, we must take this step together in spirit. Even if you don’t think you have to worry about yourself, consider our nurses, doctors, custodial staff & other hospital workers who will be stretched beyond their capacity if we are unable to slow the spread of this disease.

“Consider your family and friends you may infect if you are carrying the virus. We need to keep them safe. North Carolina is now considered by the CDC to have widespread transmission, meaning that some people who have tested positive don’t know how they got it.

“They didn’t travel anywhere. They weren’t in contact with another known positive. But now they find themselves sick with this virus. Because no one is immune and there is no vaccination, the best scientifically proven tool we have to slow the spread is keeping our physical distance and staying at home.

'“I know this order may lead to even more hardship and heartache. Many of you are already doing what you’re supposed to, even though that means that you’re isolated or you might have lost your job. That’s a difficult situation, so thank you for doing the right thing. And I will do everything in my power to cushion the economic blow.

“Because I have made benefits easier to get with my executive order, we’ve had more than 200,000 unemployment claims filed, with most of them citing this pandemic. The first COVID-19 unemployment benefits will be paid early next week. I’m fighting for federal and state help for workers, their families, and businesses. We will not forget those who have lost their livelihoods in this crisis.

“Being apart from family and friends is difficult. Working via conference call or webcam can be frustrating. The sounds of our lives – the school bell or the half-time buzzer – they are gone. Losing your job or closing your business has to be difficult. But we have to act now in the safest, smartest way when we have the chance to save lives. It is truly a matter of life and death.

“And even with the uncertainty of these times and the new pace of our lifestyles, we know that the good parts of our lives as North Carolinians will return. We fight this disease now so that we are better able to defeat it in the future. Thank you for heeding these orders, and for your patience. And special thanks to our health care workers and their dedication to our state. We are all grateful for you, we're all praying for you.”