NC Gov. Cooper signs order to address disparities in black and brown communities
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday he signed an executive order to address disparities in health care in black and brown communities.
African-Americans have been among those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooper said African-Americans account for 30% of the state’s confirmed coronavirus cases and 34% of the deaths. African-Americans make up only 22% of North Carolina’s population.
Latinos account for 39% of North Carolina’s COVID-19 cases, yet make up only 10% of the state’s population.
“I want to be clear – there is nothing inherent to black or brown people that makes them more susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness,” Cooper said in a Thursday press briefing. “The data should not be used to further racism or fear.
“The disparity is because people of color have historically had less access to healthcare, housing, economic opportunity and more. This virus is exploiting those inequalities and it’s up to us to do something about it.”
The executive order establishes a task force to addresses long term disparities. It also directs the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office to make sure relief funds are fairly distributed, including to minority-owned businesses, and will provide those businesses access to more opportunities and resources.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday reported 31,966 positive cases of COVID-19 cases and 960 deaths.
The News & Observer is keeping its own tally using data from NC DHHS and county health departments. As of Thursday afternoon, it included 32,074 reported cases and 1,006 deaths.
Bars, outdoor seating legislation
Sunday is the deadline for Cooper to act on House Bill 536/Senate Bill 592, which would allow bars to reopen just like restaurants and breweries, wineries and distilleries have already under Cooper’s Phase Two plan. The governor has 10 days to sign or veto a bill. He can also just let it become law without a signature.
That’s what Senate leader Phil Berger is hoping.
“I think the executive orders that are in place at the present time are rife with inconsistencies,” Berger told The News & Observer on Thursday.
“I don’t know how you say that those are backed by science ... where science says you can have someone go into a restaurant and order a drink but you can’t have someone go into a bar and order a drink,” Berger said. “I don’t know what that is, but that’s not science.”
This week the legislature also considered another bill that would overturn Cooper’s order relating to the reopening of gyms, which are also still closed in Phase Two.
Cooper has not yet said that he will veto the bars bill, but said he has concerned that it and the gym bill that is still in a legislative committee “take away flexibility during the time of emergency.”
Phase 2.5?
The governor also said Thursday that there is “a possibility even before we get to Phase Three that we may want to get to a Phase 2.5.”
Phase Two is scheduled to last until at least June 26. The governor and Department of Health and Human Services Sec. Dr. Mandy Cohen called Phase Two’s reopening that held back bars and gyms “modest.”
Cooper said they look at data daily and want to look at trends over a period of time before they are “comfortable to turn that dimmer switch up just a little.”
He said the legislation prevents being able to turn the dimmer switch back down.
Still, he called what’s in the bar and seating bill “laudable goals and might be put into an executive orders if the numbers are right.”
The bill would also allow restaurants and bars to have outdoor seating at 50% capacity of what is allowed for indoor seating. Social distancing requirements would be in place. Outdoor seating areas could also include sidewalks and areas of public streets if allowed by local governments.
Cooper faced criticism when he announced Phase Two would allow restaurants to reopen their dine-in services but not bars. The same week, he clarified the order to also allow wineries, distilleries and breweries to reopen. He also drew criticism by not allowing gyms to reopen under Phase Two. A group of gym owners filed a lawsuit against Cooper last week.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 5:19 PM with the headline "NC Gov. Cooper signs order to address disparities in black and brown communities."
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