March 26, 2020
As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Wake County, so are concerns that the virus could overwhelm our local healthcare system. To help prevent that from happening, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Ford signed a proclamation today that puts a stay-at-home order in effect on Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m.
“If we’re serious about protecting our community, we need to get serious about staying at home, so we can slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Chairman Ford. “That’s why we moved swiftly to implement this measure. Our short-term sacrifices can mean very literally the difference between life and death for some of our residents – and it would be irresponsible not to act.”
The goal of the proclamation is for Wake County residents to stay home and away from others who are not immediate members of their family or household. By restricting contact, the county hopes to reduce the rate at which COVID-19 is infecting residents.
What is Not Allowed under the Proclamation
The stay-at-home order includes the following mandates:
All non-essential facilities, services, operations and retail businesses must close.
Gatherings of any size are prohibited.
People of any age with medical conditions should not leave their homes except to get medical care.
Social distancing must be practiced while in public.
Public transportation should only be used if necessary. If public transport is a person’s primary way to get around, they should abide by social distancing best practices, standing and sitting at least six feet apart and using sanitizing products.
What is Allowed under the Proclamation
The stay-at-home does not restrict activities such as:
Shopping for food at the grocery store or picking up take-out meals from a local restaurant
Operating businesses that provide critical services like hospitals, government agencies and financial institutions
Caring for a family member or pet in another household
Providing childcare for parents who have to go to work at jobs that are considered essential
Utilizing plumbers, electricians, exterminators and others who help maintain the safety and sanitation of residences
Visiting a local park, greenway or nature preserve while practicing social distancing
For a comprehensive list, read the proclamation, which is attached to this news release. It will remain in effect until April 16 at which time the county will re-evaluate the situation and determine if an extension is needed.
“We’ve been in constant conversation with our partners at the local hospitals and in the municipalities since the pandemic took hold here,” said Wake County Manager David Ellis. “Together, we looked at the growing caseload in our community and determined a stay-at-home order was the best way to help protect our residents and healthcare workers from contracting COVID-19.”
Information for Businesses
Wake County has set up a dedicated phone line – 919-856-7420 – to address business-specific questions related to the stay-at-home order. In addition, special FAQs focused on the business community are posted on the county’s COVID-19 webpage here.
Wake County is also working with the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Wake County Economic Development to help communicate with the business community about these changes and share important resources to support them during this challenging time.
Protecting Yourself
You can protect yourself from COVID-19 and any other flu-like illness by following these simple steps:
Stay home and go out only to take care of basic needs.
Stay away from sick people and practice social distancing measures.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
Clean and disinfect surfaces using household cleaning spray or wipes.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
Staying Updated
Wake County has made it easy for you to stay updated on the latest information about COVID-19.
You can visit our COVID-19 webpage, which has a set of frequently asked questions to educate residents in English and in Spanish, a list of COVID-19-related closures and service changes, as well as an email address and phone number that people can use to ask personal health-related questions about COVID-19.
The webpage also includes a “Help for Residents” area, which provides information about how to access a number of services, such as food and nutrition services, Medicaid, Work First benefits and more.
For additional information, follow Wake County on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Read the Proclamation Here