The City of Durham and Durham County Government have combined their stay-at-home orders and amended it to cover violations of the original order.

According to a press release, mayor Steve Schewel and county board of commissioners chair Wendy Jacobs did this to reduce confusion.

Here’s what the revised order says:

▪ The number of people allowed in a gathering is reduced from from 10 to 5.

▪ Realtors can only have virtual showings, none in-person.

▪ Bans all sports involving shared equipment, including tennis and sports that use balls, discs, pucks and frisbees.

▪ All essential retail stores must require social distancing and sanitation practices. This will be enforced by both the police department and the sheriff’s office.

▪ Farmers markets can only operate by pickup or delivery

▪ Employees of any business operating in a residential setting have to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose

▪ Orders fitness centers in subdivisions and apartments to close

“We are amending the Order to respond to questions that have arisen since our original Orders were issued and to respond to violations of the initial order,” Schewel said in the press release.

“We have also strengthened the enforcement provisions of this Order to ensure that all businesses and residents take the Order seriously.”

The city’s order originally specifically allowed tennis, but Schewel said that would only last if social distancing was practiced. Outdoor activities like going to parks and open outdoor recreation areas are still allowed.

“We still have so much work to do to assist those friends and neighbors through the weeks to come as this pandemic affects all of our lives,” Jacobs said.

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 4:44 PM.

Trent Brown

The News & Observer

910-840-5594

Trent Brown graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019 and is a Collegiate Network fellow.