Guilford County and other communities increase COVID-19 enforcement as cases rise
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Updated: 3:14 PM EST Dec 11, 2020
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Updated: 3:14 PM EST Dec 11, 2020
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BRIANA: THIS TIME TOMORROW NIGHT GOVERNOR ROY COOPER’S MODIFIED STAY AT HOME ORDER FOR NORTH CAROLINA WILL BE IN EFFECT, PUTTING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES UNDER A CURFEW. KENNY: PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO STAY AT HOME FROM 10:00 P.M. TO 5:00 A.M., EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, LIKE GOING TO OR FROM WORK OR GETTING FOOD. MOST BUSINESSES MUST BE CLOSED DURING THAT WINDOW. BRIANA: GROCERY STORES, URGENT CARE FACILITIES, PHARMACIES AND OTHER SIMILAR BUSINESSES CAN STAY OPEN OVERNIGHT. RESTAURANTS CAN ONLY PROVIDE TAKE OUT OR DELIVERY AFTER 10:0 ALCOHOL SALES WILL END AT 9:00. KENNY: WE’RE HEARING FROM TRIAD LEADERS AS WE’RE JUST HOURS AWAY FROM THIS NEW ORDER TAKING EFFECT. JUSTIN SHRAIR JOINS US LIVE WITH THOSE DETAILS. JUSTIN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? JUSTIN: AS COVID CASES INCREASE, CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS ARE TIGHTENING UP AROUND THE TRIAD. ON THE EVE OF GOVERNOR ROY COOPER’S NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKING EFFECT WHICH INCUDES MORE RESTRICTIONS FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES, GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE INCREASING ENFORCEMENT. >> WE ARE HOPING THAT WHEN WE DO THIS THE NUMBERS OF DEATHS WILL GO DOWN, THE NUMBERS OF OUR ACTIVE INFECTED PERSONS WILL GO DOWN AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT HAVE TO DO A SHUTDOWN. JUSTIN: GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONER SKIP ALSTON SAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTING IN THEIR CAPACITY AS THE HEALTH BOARD PASSED NEW ENFORCEMENT PENALTY’S AIMED AT COMBATTING COVID-19 IF BUSINESSES VIOLATE THE GOVERNOR’S CURRENT ORDER ALONG WITH HIS NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT AT 5PM FRIDAY. >> IT CAN BE UP TO $300 FOR TH SECOND VIOLATION AND $400 FOR THE THIRD AND $500 FOR THE 4TH VIOLATION AND YOU COULD IN BETWEEN THAT POSSIBLY SHUT DOWN FOR ONE DAY, TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS. JUSTIN: ALSTON SAYS WHILE THE COUNTY IS ENLISTING THE HELP OF SANITATION INSPECTORS AND CO ENFORCEMENT. HE SAYS THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO EDUCATE. HE SAYS THE FIRST VIOLATION WOULD BE A WARNING. THESE ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BEING TAKEN UP BY SOME TRIAD LEADE INCLUDING IN GREENSBORO WHERE MAYOR NANCY VAUGHN HAS ALSO INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS. IN WINSTON-SALEM MAYOR ALLEN JOINS ALSO TIGHTENED ENFORCEMENT MEASURES FOR MASK-WEARING AN CAPACITY LIMITS. JOINES RESPONDED TO TH GOVERNOR’S MOST RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH WILL GO IN EFFECT FRIDAY, SAYING, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR’S NEED TO TAKE SOME TYPE OF DEMONSTRATIVE ACTION BECAUSE THE RATE OF INFECTION IS SKYROCKETING. I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET IT UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT HAVING FURTHER NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESSES. BACK IN GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONER ALSTON SAYS IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK AS EVERYONE TRIES TO GET A GRASP ON THIS DISEASE. WE ARE GOING TO PUT FORTH AS MUCH MANPOWER AND WOMAN POWER AS POSSIBLE. JUSTIN: I ALSO REACHED OUT TO HIGH POINT MAYOR JAY WAGNER TO SEE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY INCREASED ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK BUT HE -- HEARD BACK FROM HIM AS OF TONIGHT. KENNY: STILL NO WORD ON WHETHER TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS WILL CHANGE ITS HOURS TOMORROW NIGHT. RIGHT NOW, THE SHOW IS OPEN UNTIL 11. WE’RE TOLD COUNTY MANAGEMENT IS STILL DISCUSSING HOW THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDE MIGHT IMPACT THEM. BRIANA: IN FORSYTH COUNTY, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTARILY COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER. IF DEPUTIES ENCOUNTER VIOLATIONS, THEY WILL TALK WITH THOSE PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE ORDER TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE. THE AGENCY SAYS IT’S NOT SOMETHING THEY WANT TO ENFORCE WITH THE PUNISHMENT OF A CITATION. THE RANDOLPH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAY IT’S NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER MANDATES. IN A STATEMENT, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS, QUOTE, TO DO SO WOULD REQUIRE A WORKFORCE THAT OUR OFFICE SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE; WOULD OVERBURDEN THE ALREA SATURATED COURT DOCKETS, WOULD INCREASE SOCIAL CONTACT BETWEEN OUR DEPUTIES AND CITIZENS THAT DOES NOT FURTHER A LEGITIMATE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN AN EDUCATIONAL CAPACITY AND ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT VIRUS TRANSMIS