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N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper sets new curfew for COVID-19

POLK COUNTY—North Carolina residents are under a curfew that began on Friday. 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced this week that the state will be on a modified stay at home order following a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. 

Cooper signed executive order 181, which will require people to stay at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. from Friday, Dec. 11 until at least Jan. 8, 2021. 

The order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and other businesses to close at 10 p.m. There are exemptions, including traveling to or from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of family members. 

North Carolina Health and Human Services said the number of red counties throughout the state has more than doubled since Nov. 23, up to 48 red counties from the previous 20 red counties. There are now 34 orange counties, which means there is a substantial community spread, compared to 42 orange counties previously. There are now more than 80 percent of the state’s 100 counties classified as in the red or orange tier with the state’s new county alert system map. 

As of Thursday, Polk County was still classified in the lowest range of yellow.