Gaston Co. issues ‘stay at home’ order after COVID-19 cases double in 24 hours
Gaston County leaders issued a “stay at home” order Thursday, following Mecklenburg and other North Carolina counties by adding new restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Gaston County order will take effect Friday at 5 p.m.
The order comes after CaroMont Health officials notified county officials of the first case of community spread in Gaston County Thursday morning, according to a news statement from the county Thursday.
Reported COVID-19 cases jumped from 5 to 11 in the county in 24 hours, the county said. Health experts have said higher case numbers are to be expected as testing improves and expands. However, N.C. health officials have also acknowledged that the number of positive cases likely does not reflect how fast COVID-19 may be spreading.
“It is clear to me that we have to be swift and act as local government to do what we can do to make sure that this virus does not spread beyond what is manageable,” chairman of the county commissioners Tracy Philbeck said in a statement.
Similar to Mecklenburg’s order, which went into effect Thursday morning, Gaston County will limit gatherings to no more than 10 people.
Cabarrus, Wake and Buncombe counties were among the North Carolina issuing similar orders Wednesday.
The Gaston County order will be “less restrictive on the manufacturing industry,” compared to Mecklenburg, Gaston officials said in a statement.
The order lists manufacturing, distribution and supply chain companies as essential businesses.
The order will run until April 16, but could be extended if needed.
“We should be calm,” Philbeck said in the statement. “We should be smart, and we should consider others at this time.”
Gaston County government employees will begin working remotely on Monday, and non-essential government employees will be paid through administrative leave for up to seven weeks, according to the county statement.
Residents and businesses with questions about the order can call the “stay at home” Gaston County hotline at 704-866-3170.
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