‘We can’t afford to go backwards’: As COVID-19 cases rise, NC urges safety compliance
As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations increase in North Carolina, the state’s top health official and representatives from hospitality and retail industries pushed for renewed efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have topped more than 1,000 patients since Oct. 6, and new daily cases this month have reached levels not seen since a July peak.
Gov. Roy Cooper uses these measurements, along with the numbers of people going to hospital emergency departments with COVID-19-like symptoms, and the percentage of each day’s coronavirus tests that return positive results, to make decisions about loosening health restrictions on business and leisure activities.
He allowed bars, amusement parks, movie theaters and other venues to reopen on Oct. 2, with restrictions, as part of Phase 3 of his reopening plan. Phase 3 is in effect until at least Oct. 23.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, state Department of health and Human Services secretary, said at a news conference the state’s COVID-19 trends are getting worse.
“This worsening of our trends is concerning, and we need to do all we can to turn those trends around,” she said. “We do not want to have to go backwards.”
Cohen said the state was able to avoid the first and second surges of cases that hit other states, and she wants that progress to continue, especially as flu season approaches.
She said no specific type of setting is responsible for the increases and the virus’ spread. It can spread as more people drop their guards in following mask guidelines and social distancing rules and washing their hands.
“Where before I could pinpoint maybe a certain thing here or there, what we’re seeing now is this virus is everywhere,” Cohen said. “There’s no single place, no single age, no single location, which means we have to make sure we’re being vigilant across the board.”
Restaurants have been allowed to offer takeout and delivery service throughout the pandemic. Restaurants have been allowed to open their dining rooms at 50% occupancy since May 22 as part of the Phase 2 reopening.
North Carolina closed restaurant dining rooms and bars across the state in March, among the first measures the state took to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Seven months into the pandemic, many have yet to reopen while others have closed permanently.
Financial relief needed
Over the summer, the federal Paycheck Protection Program kept many restaurants and small businesses open with billions of dollars in forgivable loans, largely designed to cover payroll. Talks of a second round of COVID-19 relief have stalled.
Lynn Minges, director of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, said in an interview that many more businesses will close without more help.
“We’ve done our part, but we’re not going to be able to survive without some assistance from Congress,” Minges said Tuesday in a phone interview before appearing at the N.C. DHHS press conference.
“It’s no secret that the hospitality industry has taken the brunt of the COVID-19 impact and all indications suggest this will be a protracted recovery,” Minges said. “Small business owners have held onto the hope of additional relief. As the hope of that diminishes, I’m concerned we’re going to see many more closings.”
Minges added that nearly 130,000 workers in the hospitality industry remain unemployed because of reduced capacity and shuttered businesses.
Restaurants in North Carolina reopened their dining rooms in May, and bars were only recently allowed to reopen their patios but with limited capacity. Now, Minges is fearful of a second shutdown if restaurants become lax enforcing mask requirements and social distancing in their businesses.
“We want to encourage restaurants to do the right thing so we don’t have to roll backwards,” Minges said. “We’d encourage customers who’ve been exposed to COVID-19 not to come into restaurants, for everyone to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. If we don’t, I’m concerned we may see a regression. We’re all trying to pull together and do the right thing.”
Cohen added that indoor activities, by their nature, are considered more high-risk at spreading the coronavirus, which includes indoor dining and removing masks to eat and drink.
Extra precautions
During Tuesday’s press conference, Andy Ellen, president of the NC Retail Merchants Association, asked patrons to “shop smart.” Many businesses are struggling to survive, Ellen said, and they need customers.
“Right now, many businesses are struggling just to survive,” Ellen said. “They need a strong shopping season and they cannot afford for us to let our state slip backwards.”
There is no single indicator that will determine whether the state eases or tightens restrictions, Cohen said.
“We don’t have to make a choice between public health and reigniting the economy,” she said. “We can do both.”
With early voting starting Thursday, Cohen said that state and local boards of election have worked to prepare safe environments. Going to a polling place presents about the same risk as going shopping, she said.
“I think there are lots of options here to make sure we can have a safe and effective voting process,” Cohen said. “Make a plan to vote. Take your face covering with you.”
Cohen added that local municipalities can look at their coronavirus metrics by ZIP code and county to assess whether stricter COVID-19 regulations are needed.
“We’re acting at a statewide level and trying to set a baseline for the state,” Cohen said. “But local officials, looking at their own data, I encourage them to think about what else they can do at the local level so we can be targeted here in in our efforts to try to slow the spread of this virus.”
This story was originally published October 13, 2020 at 2:29 PM with the headline "‘We can’t afford to go backwards’: As COVID-19 cases rise, NC urges safety compliance."
