GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County, Greensboro, and High Point officials have now issued a Stay-at-Home order effective Friday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. The order will remain in effect through Thursday, April 16 for residents in Greensboro, High Point and in Guilford County.
The City of Winston-Salem has issued a stay-at-home order effective by Friday at 5:00 p.m.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, High Point Mayor Jay Wagner, Guilford County Commissioners Chairman Jeff Phillips addressed citizens during the briefing.
“This Stay-at-Home order requires Greensboro residents to stay home in an effort to reduce exposure and flatten the curve to reduce community spread and hospital admissions,” said Mayor Vaughan. “This decision was not an easy one. I have relied on the advice of our medical community, especially our local Cone Health System and its CEO, Terry Akin.”
City leaders said the order is to keep residents at home, avoiding normal day-to-day activities, business and trips beyond what is needed to take care of essential services and activities. Residents are allowed to go to grocery stores, pharmacies, health care appointments, and outdoor exercise while maintaining proper social distancing. Restaurants are also permitted to offer take-out and delivery service.
This comes after county officials announced yesterday new restrictions to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people.
What does this order mean?
This emergency order requires Greensboro residents to stay home in an effort to reduce exposure with the goal of reducing the spread of COVID-19 and hospital admissions.
The decision to issue this order was made with influence from the public health and medical communities.
What are the dates for this order? The Stay-at-Home order takes effect at 5 pm, Friday, March 27 and remains in effect through 11:59 pm on Thursday, April 16. It will be continually evaluated and modified based on the guidance from public health officials and experts.
What is allowed?
• Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
• Visit a health care professional for medical services that cannot be provided virtually (call first)
• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
• Care for or support a friend or family member
• Take a walk, ride your bike, jog and be in nature for exercise – just keep at least six feet between you and others.
• Walk your pets
• Take pets to the vet
• Help someone to get necessary supplies
• Receive deliveries from any business which delivers
What isn’t allowed?
• Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order
• Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need
• Get closer than six feet from others
• Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited purposes as provided on the facility websites
• Travel except for essential travel and activities
What businesses and types of work are considered essential?
• Healthcare, public health, law enforcement, public safety and first responders
• Food, beverage and agriculture
• Grocery stores and pharmacies
• Transportation (airlines, taxi, public transportation, vehicle rental, logistics)
• Media
• Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation (auto supply, auto repair, bicycle shops, etc.)
• Financial institutions such as banks, consumer lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies, financial markets, trading and future exchanges, entities that issue bonds, etc.
• Hardware and supply stores
• Critical trade occupations, such as building and construction, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, janitorial staff, security staff, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services and other services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences and businesses
• Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services • Laundry services • Restaurants for off-premise consumption (in-house delivery, third-party delivery, drivethru, curbside pick-up and carry out)
• Professional services, including but not limited to legal, accounting, and insurance
• Childcare centers
• Manufacturing, distribution and supply chain
Hotels and motels
• Funeral services
• Other community-based government operations and essential functions including human services
• Other community-based human service operations
• Hazardous materials
What is considered essential business/travel?
• Shopping for necessary supplies and services
• Providing necessary care for others
• Traveling to work for essential business and operations
• Traveling to a healthcare appointment
• Outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, running, cycling, using greenways
Are personal services, such as nail salons, hair salons, barbershops, and tanning facilities classified as essential?
No, businesses that provide personal services are not classified as essential and have been ordered to terminate their services by the Governor.
What is considered essential travel?
• Any travel related to the provision of or access to essential activities, essential government functions, essential business and operations, or minimum basic operations
• Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
• Travel to and from education institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and other related services
• Travel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children according to a custody agreement