Stay-at-home vs. safer-at-home: What’s the difference as North Carolina reopens?
The coronavirus forced North Carolina under a statewide stay-at-home order that started March 30 and was extended by Gov. Roy Cooper in late April.
Now the state is finally ready to lift it.
Under Phase Two of Cooper’s three-phase reopening plan beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, North Carolina will transition into a so-called safer-at-home order.
So what’s the difference?
Cooper’s original stay-at-home order directed everyone — healthy or otherwise — to stay home except for essential travel to shop at grocery stores, exercise outdoors or help a family member. It banned gatherings of more than 10 people and shuttered a large swath of businesses in the state.
“I know this order may lead to even more hardship and heartache,” Cooper said at the time.
A modified iteration of that order on May 8 eased a few restrictions, most notably by declassifying businesses as “essential” or “non-essential” and allowing retailers to reopen with some conditions.
Under the new safer-at-home order, people can move about more freely, but social distancing guidelines remain in place. More businesses are allowed to reopen.
“It is important to stay home if you are sick,” according to a state-issued FAQ. “While in public, people should wear a cloth face covering, practice social distancing by waiting six feet apart from others while in public, and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.”
The safer-at-home order remains in effect until June 26 at the earliest, according to the governor’s office.
Who is affected by a safer-at-home order?
Healthy people under the age of 65 who are not otherwise defined as “high risk” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are more or less allowed to move about as they see fit, according to the FAQ.
High-risk individuals, however, “are urged to stay at home and travel only for absolutely essential purposes,” officials said.
According to the CDC, high risk includes anyone over age 65 and anyone with a serious underlying medical condition, particularly those who are immunocompromised or who have:
- chronic lung disease
- moderate to severe asthma
- serious heart conditions
- severe obesity
- diabetes
- chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
- liver disease
This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 1:12 PM.
