Coronavirus: Huntersville Parks Closes Down Playgrounds

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — Parks remain open in Huntersville, however, playgrounds and park restrooms are now closed, according to the Town of Huntersville. The new town mandate comes as Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order Monday banning groups of 50 or more throughout the state as a measure to help combat the spreading novel coronavirus outbreak.

North Carolina public schools will be closed through May 15, Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday afternoon. The announcement represents an extension of the ongoing two-week closure for in-person instructions in public schools that began March 16.

Cooper also announced Monday he is signing an executive order that bans mass gatherings of 50 people or more as of Wednesday at 5 p.m. This new order, which ramps up a previous ban on groups of 100 or more, means temporary closure for businesses such as gyms, movie theaters, sweepstakes parlors and health clubs will temporarily close.

Says Huntersville Parks and Recreation Department:
The outdoors are open but while visiting our parks and trails, please be aware of the following:

• Playgrounds and restrooms are closed
• Practice social distancing and avoid close contact with others.
• Do not congregate in groups of 10 or more.
• Wash your hands before and after touching surfaces within the parks.

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As of Monday, there have been 297 positive coronavirus cases and no deaths in North Carolina.

The NC DHHS released the numbers of tests taken across the state, which totaled more than 8,438, and said Monday than more than 10,000 tests remained pending.

Globally, more than 392,000 people have been infected and more than 17,000 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Tuesday. Of that total, more than 46,400 confirmed cases are in the United States. More than 593 deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak, as of Tuesday.

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