All public N.C. Schools closed for at least two weeks starting Monday

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order which stated that all public schools in North Carolina would be closed for at least two weeks starting on Monday, March 16.

The closure is in effect for all public schools, grades K-12, and is part of a statewide effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus in North Carolina.

The governor’s executive order also put a temporary ban on all gatherings of 100 people or more across the state for the immediate future. This does not include regular business at local stores, restaurants, and other spots on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands that are currently open, or are preparing to open for the 2020 season.

“We are working on efforts to deal with these challenges, from changes to unemployment insurance to special funding from the state and federal government[s] to help get us through this,” stated Gov. Cooper at the press conference.

As of Saturday, March 14, there were a total of 23 confirmed cases of Coronavirus reported in North Carolina, and a total of 1,694 cases across the U.S. There have been no reported cases of Coronavirus in the Outer Banks in Dare and Hyde counties.

Per a recent update from the Outer Banks Voice, Dare County’s Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Director, Debbie Dutton, stated that the county is in good shape when it comes to having the resources to accommodate people who need to be tested for the novel coronavirus. Tests have been conducted on the Outer Banks, and there have been no positive test results for the novel coronavirus in Dare County

“Most, if not all providers, have the testing materials necessary to provide tests,” Dutton told the Voice, noting that tests can be administered through private providers, urgent care facilities, and the Outer Banks Hospital. She added that the decision of whether to administer a test is made by the medical professional after a patient evaluation. The medical providers then send tests to commercial laboratories, with results returned approximately 24-48 hours after testing.

It is recommended that patients call their healthcare provider to inquire about testing if have the following symptoms, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

• A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Negative flu test, if one was administered

For a complete list of the seven NCDHHS recommendations to help combat the spread of COVID-19, please visit the NCDHHS website.

For more information on the county response to coronavirus, see https://www.darenc.com/departments/health-human-services/coronavirus.