Wake County will follow Durham’s lead and announce a stay-at-home order today, officials confirmed.
On Wednesday, the number of positive cases of coronavirus in North Carolina reached 513, with 73 in just Wake County. The state reported its first death from the virus Tuesday in Cabarrus County.
The highly-contagious virus has already led Governor Roy Cooper to order the closure of schools and businesses statewide. Mayor Steve Schewel announced Tuesday night Durham would tell its residents to shelter in place.
Greg Ford, who chairs the Wake County Board of Commissioners, confirmed that, “due to the quickly escalating public health emergency caused by COVID-19, Wake County will share details about a Stay-At-Home Order very soon.”
“For the past two days, Wake County Commissioners and staff from the County Manager’s office have been in close contact with state and local public health officials, leaders from local hospitals, and mayors and municipal managers from each of Wake County’s 15 towns and cities,” Ford said in an email. “We are also having crucial conversations with our local business community. County staff have been working with urgency on a draft declaration based on that input, and we will make an announcement at a press conference tomorrow. Details will be shared in an advisory later today.”
Commissioner Vicki Adamson said the order will only apply for unincorporated parts of the county, but that Wake is “asking for our municipalities to join up so it is consistent throughout the county.”
While officials haven’t shared the details of the order yet, the plan will look “very similar” to what was implemented in Mecklenberg County earlier this week, Adamson said.
Here’s what that order looks like:
UPDATE: Wake County announced they would be making no official announcement regarding a stay-at-home order Wednesday. A press conference is planned for 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Ford said there was no delay in the announcement.
“We’re still on track,” Ford said.
Contact Raleigh editor Leigh Tauss at ltauss@indyweek.com.
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I wish they would tell us we’re on lockdown, then maybe folks will take it seriously. Right now, I see no difference in the amount of cars out on the road from last week to now. I’ve been taking my children on little road trips to break up the monotony of the day, we don’t get out of the car until we’re back home.
This stay at home order is scaring my daughter, who wants to see a friend in Wayne County, but is scared to drive there. She thinks she’ll get stopped by the police – any comments?