Wake County declared a heightened state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, limiting crowd size, closing some businesses and urging employers to screen workers for high temperatures.

The county’s move falls short of ordering residents to shelter-in-place, but officials in Raleigh and other towns hinted Sunday that level of restriction may be coming.

“We don’t want to overreact, but we want to stay on top of things,” Wake Commissioner James West said Sunday. “We possibly could have to take on more restrictions because there’s just so many unknown factors in terms of the spread. ... We don’t want to create panic.”

The county’s declaration makes the following mandatory:

▪ Mass gatherings are limited to 50 people, whether in theaters, meeting halls, auditoriums or any other indoor spaces. Many types of businesses are excluded, including grocery and hardware stores, gas stations, hotels and day cares.

▪ Fitness clubs, gyms, salons, tattoo parlors and spas are closed. Restaurants may remain open for delivery and carry-out.

“None of these decisions is easy,” County Manager David Ellis said. “The risk of keeping non-essential business open is too great.”

▪ The use of playground equipment, both public and private, is prohibited. Open space around parks and greenways can remain open.

“We want people to use our greenways, our trails, to get that fresh air,” county Director of Human Services Regina Petteway said. “That’s good for their mental health.”

▪ Nursing home and assisted living visits are limited to adults who show identification, and all must show identification and be screened for signs of COVID-19. Visits are confined to residents’ rooms and limited to one person a day.

▪ The county is urging businesses to start respiratory and temperature screening for employees and to prohibit people with fevers higher than 100.4 from entering. Businesses are also encouraged to screen clients.

Some towns, including Cary and Morrisville, have also declared an emergency state, but the Board of Commissioners’ Sunday declaration makes the restrictions uniform countywide.

Ellis said police and sheriff’s deputies will enforce the new restrictions but the details, including whether tickets will be issued, is up to individual cities and towns.

Wake County Emergency Operations Center Director Darshan Patel said stricter rules such as shelter-in-place is “a tool in the toolbox” that could kick in if the county sees continued spread of the virus. But for now the idea is to give enhanced social distancing time to work.

The state DHHS reported 255 positive tests for coronavirus Sunday morning, rising from 184 on Saturday. Testing has increased to 6,438 people, up from 5,276 Saturday.

The News & Observer has compiled a separate tally based on reporting from both the state and individual counties. By Sunday afternoon, the total cases had reached 298, of which 49 are in Wake County.

This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 1:04 PM.