Gov. Roy Cooper listens as DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen talks about the increase of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C. on Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020. (Julia Wall/The News & Observer via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:53 AM PT – Thursday, October 22, 2020
North Carolina will not be moving to the next phase of reopening as the number of COVID-19 cases rise.
On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said the state is expected to remain in phase three for at least three more weeks. This comes as health officials have said the daily positive rate is over 7 percent when it should be closer to 5 percent.
North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 for the next three weeks. Let’s take this time to focus on what we know works — wearing a mask, washing our hands and waiting six feet apart.https://t.co/wErNBCDnYC pic.twitter.com/CuhoGlc8T1
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) October 21, 2020
Under phase three, capacity limits will remain in force for bars and mandatory mask orders are still in place. Gov. Cooper said local law enforcement will be able to step in if people do not follow precautions.
“Local health departments and our State Department of Health and Human Services have authority under the health laws to enforce safety precautions, to make sure that we’re sending the signal that this is serious and that we have to slow the spread of the virus,” he stated.
Meanwhile, health officials have encouraged residents to download a state app, which can alert users when they may have been exposed to someone who tested positive.
The extension of phase three will last until at least November 13.
COVID-19 NC Update: As of today, we have had 250,592 positive cases; 1,842 new cases reported since yesterday; 1,219 people in the hospital, and sadly 4,032 people who have died. pic.twitter.com/oz7BKBU8FA
— NCDHHS (@ncdhhs) October 21, 2020
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