North Carolina Stay At Home Order
March 30, 2020 by Phoebe Coddington
What Employers Need To Know
North Carolina will soon become the 27th state to require residents to stay at home to limit the spread of COVID-19. Governor Cooper’s stay at home order goes into effect at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020 and will be in place for at least 30 days.
The North Carolina stay at home order is nearly identical to the March 24, 2020 stay at home order issued by Mecklenburg County. Both limit public and private gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Just like the Mecklenburg County order, North Carolina residents must stay at home except to venture out for food, medication, medical assistance, outdoor exercise, or to help others.
Governor Cooper’s Executive Order also provides exceptions for “COVID-19 Essential Businesses and Operations.” Those include:
- Businesses that meet social distancing requirements
- Businesses operating in CISA identified sectors
- Healthcare and public health operations
- Human services operations
- Essential infrastructure operations
- Essential government operations
- Stores that sell groceries and medicine
- Food, beverage production and agriculture
- Organizations that provide charitable and social services
- Religious entities
- Media
- Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation
- Financial and insurance institutions
- Home improvement, hardware and supplies
- Critical trades
- Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services
- Educational institutions
- Laundry services
- Restaurants for consumption off-premises
- Supplies for COVID-19 essential businesses and operations
- Transportation
- Home-based care and services
- Residential facilities and shelters
- Professional services
- Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries
- Defense and military contractors
- Hotels and motels