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NC 'Stay at Home' Orders

NC 'Stay at Home' Orders

Governor Cooper issues statewide Stay at Home Order. Prior to the Governor's statewide order, North Carolina county and municipal authorities have taken additional local action and issued their own mandates with the force of law. To ensure you are complying with the law and to help manage the discord of multiple government orders, the new restrictions enacted under each county and city is broken down below:

  • NC to Remain in Phase 2 and Now Requires Face Coverings per New Executive Order 147 (June 24, 2020)
    • Executive Order 147 requires citizens to wear face coverings in public places, whether indoors or outdoors and where physical distancing of six feet is not possible
    • Certain businesses required to have employees and customers wear face coverings. Businesses include: retail businesses, restaurants, personal care and grooming establishments, child care centers and camps, state government agencies under the Governor’s Cabinet, manufacturing and constructions sites, health care and long-term care settings, and others
    • Takes effect Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m.
    • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Cohen's presentation showing the state’s current trends that informed Governor’s decision
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More details available in Governor's press release
  • NC Moves to Phase 2 Lifting Certain COVID-19 Restrictions (May 22, 2020)
    • Executive Order 141 moves NC to phase 2 on May 22 at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m.
    • Restaurants, personal care businesses and pools can reopen at 50% capacity
    • Other businesses such as bars, night clubs, gyms and entertainment venues remain closed
    • Mass gatherings limited to no more than 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors
    • Teleworking continues to be encouraged for businesses
    • More details available in Governor's press release
  • North Carolina 'Stay at Home' Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Statewide Stay at Home Order: requires citizens to stay at home except for “essential activities,” which is defined in the Order
    • The definition of what constitutes an “essential business” is broad and includes not only those businesses identified by the federal government as critical in its recent CISA Memorandum, but also a wide range of additional businesses (including construction, research laboratories, professional services, etc)
    • Businesses that maintain social distancing may also continue to operate
    • A business that is not included in the list of “essential businesses” may apply to the Department of Revenue and request to be deemed essential
    • The Order specifically does not preempt the Stay at Home orders of local governments, and if there is a conflict between the local and state orders, the most restrictive requirements will control
    • Takes effect Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m. and lasts until April 29, 2020
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Town of Beaufort Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order. Businesses that operate primarily outdoors may operate as though they were an Essential Service
    • Provided they comply with Social Distancing Requirements, any business may have staff present to perform Minimum Basic Operations as defined by this order
    • Takes effect on March 31 at 5 p.m. until April 29, 2020 or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded or amended
  • Buncombe County Order
    • “Stay Home, Stay Safe Supplemental Declaration” to an existing local state of emergency went into effect at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2020 
  • Cabarrus County Order
    • Stay-at-home proclamation went into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2020
  • Village of Clemmons Order (March 25, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations are permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order. Businesses that operate primarily outdoors may operate as though they were an Essential Service
    • Provided they comply with Social Distancing Requirements, any business may have staff present to perform Minimum Basic Operations as defined by this order
    • Takes effect on March 27 at 5:00 p.m. and shall remain in effect until April 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. or until modified or rescinded
  • Dare County Order (March 17, 2020)
    • Mass gatherings of more than fifty people are prohibited, with exceptions for normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, office environments, restaurants, factories, grocery stores or other retail establishments
    • Takes effect on March 17 and remains in effect until modified or rescinded
  • Durham County Issues 'Stay at Home' Order (March 28, 2020)
    • Largely an extension of the City of Durham's Order
    • Takes effect at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 until April 30, 2020
  • City of Durham Issues “Stay at Home” Order (March 25, 2020)
    • Order requires all residents to remain in their homes, but allows exceptions such as seeking medical treatment, buying food or exercising outdoors. Essential businesses and operations can remain open, such as hospitals and medical clinics, grocery stores, financial and insurance institutions, hotels and those providing funeral services
    • Businesses are allowed to keep minimum staff on the premises as necessary for payroll and inventory
    • Takes effect on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. and remains in effect through Thursday, April 30
  • Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Order (March 21, 2020)
    • Effective March 21, the EBCI will suspend all tribal operations and close all tribal offices except for employees who are required to work to maintain critical services of the ECBI Any critical employee required to work during this time will be paid double-time for the hours they are required to work. All other employees will be compensated at their regular rate of pay
    • All non-essential businesses must close no later than March 23
    • Takes effect on March 23 and remains in effect until further notice
  • Forsyth County Amended Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Largely an extension of the City of Winston-Salem Amended Declaration of a State of Emergency “Stay-at-Home Order” of March 25
    • Takes effect on March 27 and remains valid through April 16, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
  • Gaston County Order  (March 27, 2020)
    • Restricts movement of all individuals living within Gaston County to stay at their place of residence except that they may leave to provide or receive certain essential services or engage in certain essential activities and work for essential businesses and governmental services such as tasks essential to health and safety; obtaining necessary services or supplies; engaging in outdoor activity provided the individuals comply with social distancing requirements; engaging in certain types of work; or to take care of others
    • All public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited
    • Takes effect on March 27 at 5 p.m. and remains in effect through April 16, 2020
  • City of Greenville Order (March 25, 2020)
    • Residents must shelter at their places of residence unless they need to leave for an essential activity such as tasks essential to health and safety; obtaining necessary services or supplies; engaging in outdoor activity provided the individuals comply with social distancing requirements; engaging in certain types of work; or to take care of others
    • All public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited
    • Takes effect on March 26 at 5 p.m. and remains in effect through April 10, 2020 at 5 p.m.
  • Guilford County Issues New Proclamation of Emergency Restrictions (March 25, 2020) 
    • New restrictions enacted: Prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people but excludes operations and businesses such as health care operations, grocery stores, banks and hotels. Professional services, such as legal and accounting services, are also excluded when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities. Bans the use of public and privately-owned playgrounds
    • Takes effect on Wednesday, March 25 at 5 p.m.
  • Guilford County and Cities of Greensboro and High Point Issue “Stay at Home” Order (March 25, 2020)
    • Order requires all residents to stay at home and refrain from normal day-to-day activities
    • All non-essential business is required to cease. Essential businesses and operations include health care and first responders, grocery stores and pharmacies, financial institutions, critical trade occupations as well as manufacturing, distribution and supply chain
    • Takes effect on Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. and remains in effect until Thursday, April 16
  • Haywood County Revised Order (March 26, 2020)
    • All individuals currently living within Haywood County and the named Towns are restricted to shelter at their places of residence. All Essential Businesses are strongly encouraged to remain open, and to the greatest extent feasible, Essential Businesses shall comply with Social Distancing requirements as defined by CDC
    • Takes effect on March 26 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Henderson County Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order. Businesses that operate primarily outdoors may operate as though they were an Essential Service
    • Provided they comply with Social Distancing Requirements, any business may have staff present to perform Minimum Basic Operations as defined by this order
    • All public and private gatherings of more than ten people are prohibited
    • Takes effect on March 28 at 12:00 p.m.
  • Town of Kernersville Order (March 26, 2020)
    • Adopts the declaration requirements made by Forsyth County
    • Takes effect March 26 at 11:00 p.m.
  • City of Lexington Order (March 27, 2020)
    • In anticipation of the county wide/statewide declaration, the City of Lexington endorses Stay-At-Home directives and recommendations as suggested by the CDC, NCDHHS and neighboring communities
    • A public safety curfew is to be imposed within the City of Lexington daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. beginning March 28 through April 18, 2020 at 12:00 a.m. During such curfew, all persons except for those who are expressly exempt shall not be or travel upon any public street, alley or roadway or upon public property, unless in search of medical assistance, food or other commodity or service necessary to sustain the wellbeing of him/herself or his/her family
  • Madison County Order (March 27, 2020)
    • All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses
    • Takes effect on Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m. and remains in effect until Friday, April 10
  • Mecklenburg County Issues “Stay at Home” Order (March 24, 2020)
    • New restrictions enacted: Prohibits public and private gatherings of more than 10 people but allows businesses deemed essential to remain open. Essential businesses include groceries, banks, hotels, funeral homes, day cares, restaurants among others
    • Order begins Thursday, March 26 at 8 a.m. and lasts through April 16, 2020
  • New Hanover County Issues “Stay at Home” Order (March 30, 2020)
    • More restrictive than the state order
    • Closes retail, hotels and restaurants that customers have to enter
    • Order takes effect on Monday, March 30th and lasts for 14 days
  • Orange County Order
    • Stay-at-home order goes into effect on Friday, March 27, 2020 until April 30, 2020
  • Pitt County Order (March 23, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order. Businesses that operate primarily outdoors may operate as though they were an Essential Service
    • All public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited
    • Takes effect on March 25 at 5 p.m.
  • Rutherford County Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order
    • Takes effect March 28 at 6 a.m. through April 17 at 6 a.m.
  • County of Swain Order (March 27, 2020)
    • Essential Businesses and Operations permitted to stay open and are defined in this Order. Businesses that operate primarily outdoors may operate as though they were an Essential Service
    • All public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.
    • Takes effect on March 27 at 8:00 p.m.
  • Wake County Extends Stay at Home Order with Revised Restrictions (April 16, 2020)
    • Extends its existing Proclamation of Emergency Restrictions until April 30th, but includes a few new modifications
    • All businesses (including those not exempted by original Proclamation) will be allowed to conduct online and telephonic sales with delivery or curbside pickup so long as certain condition are met, including wearing of cloth face masks by employees who are unable to remain six feet from others and basic health screenings at the beginning of every shift
    • Funeral services may be held if attendance is limited to 25 people and social distancing requirements are followed
    • Faith institutions are permitted to hold drive-in services with certain restrictions
    • Order takes effect on April 16 at 5pm and will remain in effect until April 30
  • Wake County Issues 'Stay at Home' Order (March 26, 2020)
    • New restrictions enacted: movement and travel restricted except for essential activities needed for the support, health, safety and welfare of Wake County residents
    • Individuals may leave their home to perform work/services in “essential infrastructure” as identified by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and “Essential Governmental Functions” as well as other businesses as outlined in the order
    • Prohibits gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household
    • Takes effect on Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. until April 17, 2020
  • Wake County Issues New Proclamation of Emergency Restrictions (March 22, 2020)
    • New restrictions enacted: Some types of businesses to close, prohibit gatherings of 50 or more people, change visitation practices at nursing homes and restrict the use of playground equipment at local parks
  • City of Winston-Salem Issues “Stay at Home” Order (March 25, 2020)
    • Prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people and requires all residents to remain at home except for those who conduct essential activities, essential governmental functions and operate essential businesses
    • Lists 26 categories of essential businesses and services, including professional services, pharmacies, financial institutions and supply-chain and delivery businesses
    • New requirements for nursing homes, long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities relating to staff and visitors are included
    • Takes effect on Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. and remains in effect until Thursday, April 16

Federal Agency Resources

Federal Agency Resources

State and federal governmental agencies have resources available that can assist your business during this challenging time. For your convenience, we've gathered information in one central place from N.C. State Agencies, U.S. Government Agencies and Federal Legislation on protecting yourself, your business and others in your community. 

Federal Legislation

H.R. 748--Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)

  • Status: Signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020
  • Injects $2 trillion in the US economy through:
    • Small business assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program;
    • $500 billion for business loans: small, medium-sized and specific industry loans;
    • $100 billion to health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues as a result of COVID-19;
    • Increases Medicare reimbursements and attempts to address the medical supply shortage;
    • Increases unemployment benefits by $600 per week for a time certain and expands eligibility for certain workers;
    • Establishes a tax credit for employee retention where employer was subject to close due to COVID-19;
    • Provides relief for a number of retirement and benefit plan offerings;
    • Establishes multiple temporary tax provisions to provide liquidity for businesses, including certain tax credits and delayed certain tax payments.

H.R. 6074--Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act

  • Status: Signed into law by the President on March 6, 2020
  • $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, with more than $800 million for research for treatments;
  • $2 billion slated for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and $61 million for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
  • $1 billion for state and local public health efforts, including community health centers and state and local governments;
  • $500 million to allow for Medicare providers to administer telehealth services; funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to administer loans to affected small businesses.

H.R. 6201--Families First Coronavirus Response Act

  • Status: Signed into law by the President on March 18, 2020
  • $104 billion in funding and includes:
    • Paid emergency sick and family leave for those infected by the virus or caring for a family member who contracts the illness;
    • Free diagnostic testing for anyone whose doctors says a test is needed;
    • $1 billion in expanded unemployment benefits;
    • $1.25 billion for emergency food assistance.
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect health care workers.
  • Smith Anderson Alerts:

Economic Stimulus Package (Coming Soon!)

  • Status:

U.S. Government Agencies

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

→ Community Resources

→ For Healthcare Professionals

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Department of Agriculture

Department of Health and Human Services                                                       

Department of Labor

→ Wages, Hours and Leave

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Expanded FMLA Leave and Paid Sick Leave (FFCRA)

  • Includes the effects on wages and hours under Fair Labor Standards Act, job-protected leave under FMLA, and paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Act
  • Fact Sheets: View employee paid leave rights and employer requirements 
  • Questions and Answers
    • Families First Coronavirus Response Act
    • Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Posters
    • Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under FFCRA
    • Federal Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under FFCRA
    • Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – Frequently Asked Questions under FFCRA
  • Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-1:Temporary Non-Enforcement Period Applicable to FFCRA

→ Workplace Safety

OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

  • Developed in collaboration with the US Department of Health and Human Services to help employers respond in the event of coronavirus in the workplace

Temporary OSHA Guidance on Respiratory Protection Standard

  • Suggestions and options to help increase the availability of N95 filtering facepiece respirators for healthcare providers

COVID-19 Webpage

→ Federal Contractors

National Interest Exemption to facilitate response efforts for COVID-19 (issued by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs)

Department of the Treasury   

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Export-Import Bank of the United States

Federal Aviation Administration

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

National Governors Association

  • Strong focus on what states/territories have done in response to COVID-19 with some federal information as well

Small Business Administration (SBA)

World Health Organization: COVID-19 (WHO)

NC Agency Resources

NC Agency Resources

State and federal governmental agencies have resources available that can assist your business during this challenging time. For your convenience, we've gathered information in one central place from N.C. State Agencies, U.S. Government Agencies and Federal Legislation on protecting yourself, your business and others in your community. 

NC Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS)

→ For Businesses

  • Executive Order No. 134 allows furloughed workers to qualify for unemployment benefits (April 20, 2020)
    • Gives furloughed workers who received a severance payment from their employers access to payments through the unemployment system
    • Order outlines the process for employers to file unemployment insurance claims on behalf of the furloughed employees
  • Executive Order No. 131 imposes new restrictions on retailers and long-term care facilities and streamlines unemployment benefits process (April 9, 2020)
    • Creates social distancing rules for retailers, including specific cleaning measures for stores, markings of six feet of separation between customers in line and limits on the number of people in stores at one time
    • Issues mandatory requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities such as requiring all staff to wear medical masks, no communal activities, daily temperature screenings for staff and close monitoring of residents for coronavirus health indicators
    • Makes it easier for employers to file attached claims on behalf of their employees
  • Executive Order No. 125 authorizes remote shareholder meetings (April 1, 2020)
    • Encourages remote shareholder meetings
    • States that remote shareholder meetings must still meet the requirements of the NC Business Corporation Act
    • Effective immediately and remain in effect for 60 days
  • Executive Order No. 124 prohibits utility disconnection and fees (March 31, 2020) 
    • Order prohibits utility shut-offs and late fees during COVID-19 and applies to electric, gas, water and wastewater services for the next 60 days
    • Telecommunication companies that provide phone, cable and internet services are strongly urged to follow the same rules
    • The order also encourages banks not to charge overdraft fees, late fees, etc
    • View FAQs
  • Executive Order No. 120 banns gatherings more than 50 people together (March 23, 2020)
    • Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned and businesses such as movie theaters, gyms and nail and hair salons ordered to close by 5pm on Wednesday, March 25th
    • Closes all public schools for in-school instruction until May 15th
  • Press Release: U.S. Small Business Administration Grants NC Request for Disaster Declaration (March 19, 2020)
  • Executive Order No. 118 limits operations of restaurants and bars (March 17, 2020)
  • Executive Order No. 117 banns mass gatherings over 100 people statewide (March 14, 2020)
  • COVID-19 Mitigation Measures (March 12, 2020)
  • Interim Guidance for Environmental Cleaning for Non-Healthcare Settings (March 9, 2020)
  • CDC Information for businesses
  • Guidance for Malls and Shopping Centers
  • Guidance for Public-Facing Businesses and Agencies

→ Health Care Settings

  • Executive Order No. 131 imposes new restrictions on retailers and long-term care facilities and streamlines unemployment benefits process (April 9, 2020)
    • Creates social distancing rules for retailers, including specific cleaning measures for stores, markings of six feet of separation between customers in line and limits on the number of people in stores at one time
    • Issues mandatory requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities such as requiring all staff to wear medical masks, no communal activities, daily temperature screenings for staff and close monitoring of residents for coronavirus health indicators
    • Makes it easier for employers to file attached claims on behalf of their employees
  • Executive Order No. 130 increases hospital capacity and expands pool of health care workers (April 8, 2020)
    • Lifts health care regulations to increase the quantity of hospital beds and medical equipment 
    • Allows more health care professionals such as out-of-state and retired providers into the system to work
    • Expands telehealth services
    • Permits ambulatory surgical facilities to operate as temporary hospitals
  • NCDHHS Guidance on Elective Surgeries (March 20, 2020)
    • Effective March 23, 2020, all hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers to suspend all elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries
  • Interim Healthcare Facility Preparedness Checklist (March 12, 2020)
  • NC Interim Guidance for Long Term Care Settings (March 12, 2020)
  • Interim Healthcare Facility Preparedness Checklist (March 12, 2020)
  • Healthcare Personnel and Visitor Monitoring Log (Jan. 30, 2020)
  • Symptom Self-monitoring Log (updated February 6, 2020)

→ Home Care Settings

→ Laboratory Guidance

→ Management of Scarce Resources

→ For Providers

NC Department of Commerce

  • Executive Order No. 131 imposes new restrictions on retailers and long-term care facilities and streamlines unemployment benefits process (April 9, 2020)
    • Creates social distancing rules for retailers, including specific cleaning measures for stores, markings of six feet of separation between customers in line and limits on the number of people in stores at one time
    • Issues mandatory requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities such as requiring all staff to wear medical masks, no communal activities, daily temperature screenings for staff and close monitoring of residents for coronavirus health indicators
    • Makes it easier for employers to file attached claims on behalf of their employees
  • Executive Order No. 134 allows furloughed workers to qualify for unemployment benefits (April 20, 2020)
    • Gives furloughed workers who received a severance payment from their employers access to payments through the unemployment system
    • Order outlines the process for employers to file unemployment insurance claims on behalf of the furloughed employees
  • Federal Unemployment Assistance: Updates on the expanded benefits through the CARES Act
  • Information for Individuals: Information for people filing for unemployment, including frequently asked questions
  • Unemployment Benefits Due to COVID-19 Tip Sheet
  • Information for Employers: Unemployment information for employers related to COVID-19

NC Department of Insurance (nc DOI)

NC Department of Public Instruction (nc DPI)

  • Executive Order No. 120 closes all public schools for in-school instruction until May 15th (March 23, 2020)
  • Executive Order No. 117 directs K-12 public schools across our state to close for students through at least March 30 (March 14, 2020)

NC Department of Revenue (NCDOR)

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