FILE PHOTO | TROY HULL

Mecklenburg County Emergency Management has issued a three-week stay-at-home order starting March 26 at 8 a.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management issued a three-week stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout Mecklenburg County.

The order goes into effect March 26 at 8 a.m. and ends April 16 at midnight. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will enforce the order. Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris announced the order today during the Board of County Commissioners Budget and Public Policy meeting at the Government Center. Mecklenburg County Public Health confirmed 108 cases of coronavirus as of March 23. Nearly half of the cases were among people 20-39 years of age and 1 in 5 resulted in hospitalization.

“The higher level of compliance we get with this proclamation, the shorter it will be,” County Manager Dena Diorio said.

Said commissioners Chair George Dunlap: “The sooner we get through this, the better we are. What we would like to see is the numbers to go down, rather than continue to go up…people don’t have to die. We want to do whatever we can to ensure the safety of the entire community.”

Public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited but does not apply to people living in the same household.

Per page 13 of the proclamation: “Any person violating any prohibition or restriction imposed by this proclamation as authorized by the Joint Proclamation of State Emergency shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor in accordance with G.S. [North Carolina General Statute] 14-288.20.A.”
“Do what you need to do to take care of yourself mentally and emotionally…We do feel this is the necessary step for us to take,” Harris said.

A stay-at-home order does not mean residents must isolate for 21 days. You may seek medical treatment, purchase food from supermarkets and restaurants for delivery or takeout, pick up healthcare necessities or medications from pharmacies, walk pets or take them to the vet if necessary, provide supplies for those in need, provide care or support for friends or relatives, as well as exercise outside. Only essential workers are permitted to work during this period, which include:

1) Supermarkets and pharmacies

2) Food, beverage and agriculture

3) Charitable and social services organizations

4) Media 

5) Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation

6) Financial institutions

7) Hardware and supply stores

8) Critical trades such as building and construction, plumbers, electricians, cleaning and janitorial staff

9) Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services

10) Education institutions

11) Laundry services

12) Restaurants for off-premises consumption

13) Supplies to work from home

14) Supplies for essential businesses and operations

15) Transportation

16) Home-based care and services

17) Residential facilities and shelters

18) Professional services [legal, accounting, insurance, real estate services restricted to appraisal and title service]

19) Childcare centers

20) Manufacture, distribution and supply chain

21) Hotels and motels

22) Funeral services

For the full proclamation: https://www.mecknc.gov/news/Documents/Mecklenburg%20County%20Stay%20at%20Home%20Orders.pdf

For more information: https://www.mecknc.gov/news/Pages/County-Issues-'Stay-at-Home'-Order-for-Next-21-Days.aspx

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