Gov. Cooper extends stay-home order amid ‘Reopen N.C.’ protests
Coronavirus Update: Gov. Cooper extends stay-home order amid ‘Reopen N.C.’ protests. Graphic by Lauren Wessell, picture by Caitlyn Dark.
Raleigh, N.C. — Social distancing is set to continue for residents of North Carolina. On April 23, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was extending the current stay-at-home order previously issued that began on March 30.
The previous stay-at-home order was set to expire today, April 29. However, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to climb, Gov. Cooper made the executive decision to extend the current stay-home order for two more weeks.
This extension comes on the heels of scattered waves of protests across the country for the current restrictions to be ended even as the rate of COVID-19 infection numbers continue to climb. Many who participate in these protests believe that these pandemic safety measures violate their civil liberties and represent unreasonable levels of government overreach.
Such action has even allegedly been supported by President Donald Trump, who tweeted in support of “liberating” Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia just a day after he announced that only state governors had the power to lift pandemic-related restrictions.
Closer to home, a movement called “Reopen N.C.” has recently been leading protests for the state to end closures of businesses deemed non-essential. However, Reopen N.C. may face a stumbling block as one of the Facebook group’s administrators recently came forward to announce she had tested positive for COVID-19 and recently ended a 14-day quarantine as of Monday.
As a measure to help an already tense population feel more at ease, with the extension notice Gov. Cooper also released his current plan to gradually ease the restrictions and reopen the state. The plan would allow some business and public areas to reopen, followed by the lifting of the stay-at-home order and ban on semi-large gatherings a few weeks later if “certain goals” are met.
As of April 28, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina is placed at 9,739 and the number of deaths linked to the virus was last reported at 361. The United States as a whole counts nearly a million confirmed cases and over 56,000 deaths.
terry • May 3, 2020 at 9:35 am
people are upset i understand but this is no where near close to being over i am not old or any above a5yr old child died from cov.19 i am hurt to see all these children andolder people and young nurses dying trying to save everyones lives and let not there deaths be in vain this virus has no discrimination it kills evry body its better safe than be dead and i understand how we all feel i want to go fishing and enjoy life but we cant if we are all dead from this awful pademic our leaders are doing the best they can so a few more weeks at least untill it gets hot outside this stuff is goingto hit us like a hurricane
Luke S • Apr 30, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Hey Cooper, you are destroying our economy in this state, not to mention families’ lives. You keep moving the goal posts. Give everybody, “essentials and non-essentials” a chance to prove we can live our lives, work our businesses and live a different kind of social interaction and make our state work again. And also this: KISS re-election goodbye. North Carolinians don’t want to live in a nanny state.
Tereasa jones • Apr 30, 2020 at 1:21 pm
I feel that he is doing the right thing , any crazy people that wants to go out , go and I tell you , there will be more deaths , more sickness. This is all because you want to go out . If I had the power to keep business close, I would do the same , better safe than sorry. We don’t know who has the virus.
DJN • Apr 30, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Poverty and Depression also cause sickness and suicides. People are losing businesses and seeing their savings depleted.
Stop treating us like children and stop violating our basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Look at the ages and previous conditions of those that have died.
OPEN NORTH CAROLINA
Rosey Liles • Apr 29, 2020 at 3:09 pm
We are American citizens. Open our state. If you are sick or old, stay home. Enough is enough. Our economy is failing. Open at your own risk.
Denise Boyd • Apr 29, 2020 at 2:59 pm
I just want to go on record by saying Roy Cooper has got a lot of pressure on him I would not want to be in his shoes right now with this coronavirus going on and the decisions that go on with it if you are a let’s keep him in our prayers it’s a pretty big deal
Annie Harrell • Apr 29, 2020 at 1:56 pm
Thanks you for your love of the state people. Because what good is a dollar if you don’t live to spend it I thank you from myheart .I wish our number 45 felt that.God bless and may his angels encamp around always.