RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Monday tighter assembly and business restrictions in an attempt to dull the spread of the new coronavirus, including the extended shuttering of K-12 schools until mid-May.
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Cooper said he would issue a new executive order that would make it a misdemeanor for assemblies of more than 50 people, compared to the current prohibition of over 100. The 50-person limit is in keeping with the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cooper's order also will direct all hair salons and barber shops, gyms, movie theaters and similar businesses offering activities that run counter to social distancing to close by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Amanda Thompson, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher. “I mean, I understand why, but honestly, so today was my third Skype meeting with my students. And my students are eager to get back and see each other -- like we miss each other. So, I’m just trying to keep it together for them, figuring out how I can I try and keep us connected, but also keep them encouraged and motivated to continue doing work.”
And public schools statewide will now remain closed for in-person instruction until May 15. He had already ordered closings of at least two weeks beginning March 16.
"I know that these actions cause hardship and heartache for a lot of people, but are necessary to save lives," Cooper said at a news conference. Cooper said he wasn't giving up yet on the public school year, and education officials are working on online instructional assistance.
Restaurants and bars can remain open, but only for delivery or take-out meals. Universities have shifted to online instruction.
State health officials counted as of Monday morning nearly 300 positive COVID-19 cases, an increase of over 40 compared to Sunday. No deaths have been reported. Mecklenburg, Wake and Durham cases are over half of the total. Sunrise of Raleigh, an assisted living center, announced COVID-19 has been found there but provided no further details in a news release. A case was reported at a senior living community in Cary last week.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But for older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
In the effort to ensure children in low-income families have enough to eat during the closures, the state's 115 school districts, helped by food banks, churches and volunteers, had served 1.2 million meals and 6,500 snacks through Sunday, Cooper's office said.
State Board of Education Chairman Eric Davis said there’s now a statewide daily capacity to distribute 571,000.
Leaders are still working to come up with a plan to educate children across the state remotely for potentially the rest of the school year.
The state superintendent said the issues listed below first need legislative action:
- Eliminating testing
- Calendar flexibility
- Educator and staff compensation
- Making sure students in the class of 2020 will still graduate in June
Right now, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has set up a “Supplemental Learning Plan,” where teachers check in with their students and give them some lessons and work to keep them engaged.
CMS said the focus remains on remote learning, meal preparation and distribution.
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