Franklin County enacts curfew, joins other NC counties and towns. One town says no.
Franklin County announced Friday it will add a curfew to its stay-at-home order, lasting from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
The county of about 70,000 people joins a flurry of cities, towns and counties restricting when residents can be out to slow the spread of coronavirus.
There were 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Franklin County on Friday, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services website.
“If you were hoping and praying the virus would skip by Franklin County, unfortunately I’m here today to let everyone know it’s already here,” said Scott Lavigne, the county’s health director, in a video message Friday.
“It’s been here for at least a few weeks now,” he said.
The order will go into effect at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 5, and will last as long as the governor’s stay-at-home order is in effect.
Youngsville officials said the town in the southern part of the county will not follow the curfew order.
Only people who work for essential businesses or are performing essential operations are exempt from the curfew.
Residents cannot travel on any public street or road unless seeking medical assistance, food or other necessary service.
“If we get everyone in Franklin County to follow the recommendations we know work,” Lavigne said, “a year from now when we’re having a family barbecue or singing in church ... we will know we fought the good fight and we won.”
Curfews across the state
Earlier this week, Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene enacted a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, The N&O previously reported.
“A gummy bear has more teeth than the governor’s stay at home order,” Greene posted on his personal Facebook page.
“I requested the curfew because our County Manager did not have a plan in place nor did he want to make a decision. ... COVID is more contagious than the flu and is predicted to kill over 100,000 people,” he wrote.
“Therefore, to protect the citizens of Columbus County I asked for something to be put in place that law enforcement could enforce.”
Similar curfews have been enacted across the state recently. Fayetteville enacted a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew Wednesday.
“I’ve talked about it; I’ve looked at it; I’ve contemplated it, debated for several days,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said, The Fayetteville Observer reported. “I think I would rather err on the side of caution and save lives in the city of Fayetteville than to ever have an outbreak here that costs us lives or our healthcare system to collapse.”
Other curfews issued recently in North Carolina include Union County and Monroe, Lexington, Gibson and Fairmont.
‘Not applicable in Town of Youngsville’
Fonzie Flowers, mayor of Youngsville, sent an email to Sidney Dunston, chair of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, saying the town would not follow the curfew order.
Youngsville is a town of about 1,300 people north of Wake Forest, just over the Wake-Franklin County line.
“I would very respectfully like to clarify the county’s curfew shall not apply in the corporate limits of the Town of Youngsville, and the town has no intention of instituting a curfew at this time,” Flowers wrote.
In an email to The News & Observer on Friday evening, Flowers said the town was not included in any communication with the county before the curfew announcement. He also said residents’ right to travel freely and securely will be protected in Youngsville.
“The town does not condone, nor will it practice vehicle or pedestrian stops for the sole purpose of inquiring to what purpose anyone is outside their home,” Flowers wrote. “To do so raises significant concerns regarding the 4th Amendment and the necessary ‘reasonable suspicion’ required to stop or detain.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 7:20 PM.
