• On Thursday afternoon, Governor Cooper announced that he is extending the Stay at Home order until May 8th.

• Gov. Cooper also unveiled a three-phased plan to get to a new normal. 

• A decision on schools will be announced on Friday.

Statement by Governor Roy Cooper:

“Last month, our state took strong actions to slow the spread of this pandemic. We know these actions saved lives, but we also know we can’t keep staying at home in the long run. Now we know what’s needed to transition out of the restrictions and what a new normal will look like.

“Last week, we laid out some general steps on the path forward. We need an increase in testing, more tracing and we need our trends to be heading in the right direction. The White House shared similar guidance with states and we have incorporated much of that guidance in our plan.

“After a thorough analysis of the details of testing, tracing, and trends, and having conversations with Trump Administration officials like Dr. Fauci, it’s clear that we are on the right path but that our state is not ready to lift restrictions yet.

“We need to slow the virus before we can ease restrictions, so today I’m extending the Stay At Home order until May 8. This includes continued closure of dine-in restaurants, bars & close-contact businesses like hair and nail salons, movie theaters & others in Executive Order 120.

“It’s important to get our economy moving forward. We’re helping with unemployment payments, stimulus money & the businesses that continue to be open. But I won’t risk the health of our people or our hospitals. And easing these restrictions now would do that.

“This decision is based on the data that we see in our critical categories. I know people want our lives and our livelihoods back, and I have a plan to do that. But first we will need to hit certain metrics in order to do that.”

(This story is developing)