Coronavirus In NC: 40 Cases, Restaurant Dine-In Ordered Closed

NORTH CAROLINA — Restaurants and bars in North Carolina have been ordered to close down all dine-in service as of 5 p.m. March 17, Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday morning. Restaurant customers in the state will still be able to use takeout and delivery options.

Cooper’s order, announced via social media, comes as state public health officials report that there are now 40 cases of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, in North Carolina.

Globally, more than 185,000 people have been infected and at least 7,330 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Monday morning. Of that total, 4,661 cases have been confirmed in the United States.

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Cooper is expected to speak more about this new executive order, which is also expected to include an expansion of unemployment benefits for North Carolina workers, at a press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Monday, Cooper requested a statewide disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which if granted, would provide disaster loans to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I’m asking the SBA for assistance so we can get relief to help business owners in our state weather the economic impacts of COVID-19,” Cooper said in a statement. “We know that the new Coronavirus is already impacting businesses and this financial assistance will help.”

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