The Dare County Control Group on Friday announced new restrictions in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, issuing a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Dare County Manager Bobby Outten recorded a video this afternoon to explain the order:
Under the order, individuals authorized to be in Dare County may:
● Go to the grocery, convenience store, or gas stations
● Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and healthcare necessities
● Visit a health care facility for medical services (Please call your healthcare
provider first to see if services can be provided virtually prior to visiting.)
● Go to a restaurant for take-out or drive-thru service (delivery is allowed)
● Care for or support a friend, family member, or pet
● Go outside to take a walk, go to the beach, go for a bike ride, hike, jog (only if
social distancing measures of 6 feet are maintained)
● Help others to get necessary supplies
● Receive deliveries
Individuals authorized to be in Dare County shall NOT:
● Go outside of their home if they are sick
● Travel, except for essential travel and activities
● Go to work, unless providing essential services as defined by this order
● Gather in groups of more than 10 people
● Be closer than 6 feet from others if out in public
● Visit friends and family if there is no specific, urgent need
● Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facilities, or other
residential care facilities, except for limited exceptions as provided by the specific facility
Activities that are considered essential:
In general, activities that fall under these categories are considered essential. Further details can be found in the Declaration Imposing Additional Restrictions and Prohibitions For COVID-19.
● For health and safety
● To get necessary supplies and services
● For outdoor activities (walking, hiking, golfing, running, cycling, accessing the
beach and parks that remain open)
● To work for essential businesses/operations
● To take care of others in need
The stay at home order is not a shelter in place order. Shelter in place only permits emergency travel and emergency services. Dare County is not currently planning to enact a Shelter in Place order.
In North Carolina, there are currently 764 cases of COVID-19 in 61 counties. There have been three fatalities in NC associated with COVID-19 and there is now evidence of community wide spread in 31 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Dare County this week announced its first case of coronavirus, a patient who does not have a Dare County address, and therefore is not listed on North Carolina statistics as a positive for Dare County.
A map of coronavirus cases across the world managed by Johns Hopkins University listed Dare County as having two confirmed cases on Friday morning. But Dare County Health and Human Services Director Sheila Davies said Monday morning that Dare County has had no additional confirmed cases returned. John Hopkins University has not yet responded to a request from OBXToday.com for clarification.
The Dare County COVID-19 Call Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to help address your questions on “Stay Home, Stay Healthy”, travel restrictions, testing and symptoms, and can be reached at 252.475.5008.
