WAKE COUNTY, N.C. – On Thursday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Ford signed a new proclamation that extends the current stay-at-home order through April 30.

The original order went into effect on Friday, March 27 and was scheduled to end on Friday, April 17. However, as cases continue to rise in the county and across the state, officials chose to extend the order through the end of the month.

“While we’re making good progress to flatten the COVID-19 curve in our community, we haven’t hit our peak caseload yet, so it’s too early to lift our stay-at-home restrictions,” Ford said in a release. “However, we understand how challenging this is – particularly for businesses – which is why this extension includes provisions to help the local economy while enabling us to save lives.”

Additonal information provided in Thursday's release includes:

"Under the updated order, all retail businesses in the county, its 12 municipalities (Apex; Cary; Fuquay-Varina; Garner; Holly Springs; Knightdale; Morrisville; Raleigh; Rolesville; Wake Forest; Wendell; and Zebulon), and portions of Angier, Clayton and Durham located within Wake County, are allowed to operate if they provide delivery or curbside pickup options for customers.

"It also requires businesses designated as “essential” to comply with North Carolina Executive Order 131. The state order, which was signed on April 9, sets requirements for maximum occupancy, social distancing measures and cleaning protocols for retailers.

"The proclamation also reiterates the need for employers to conduct basic health screenings – including temperature checks, documenting changes in coughs or sore throats, and asking about shortness of breath – and sending workers home if they are ill.

"In addition, the proclamation enables faith organizations to hold drive-in services."

“We know that in challenging times, religious and spiritual support is one way that people find strength and comfort,” said Ford. “While these services are accessible online, we have extended the ability to allow drive-in services if churches and places of worship are able to follow certain social-distancing parameters.”

The full proclamation can be found here.

Previous information found in the original proclamation can be found below.

What is Not Allowed under the Proclamation
The stay-at-home order includes the following mandates:

  • All non-essential facilities, services, operations and retail businesses must close.
  • Gatherings of any size are prohibited.
  • People of any age with medical conditions should not leave their homes except to get medical care.
  • Social distancing must be practiced while in public.
  • Public transportation should only be used if necessary. If public transport is a person’s primary way to get around, they should abide by social distancing best practices, standing and sitting at least six feet apart and using sanitizing products.

What is Allowed under the Proclamation
The stay-at-home does not restrict activities such as:

  • Shopping for food at the grocery store or picking up takeout meals from a local restaurant
  • Operating businesses that provide critical services like hospitals, government agencies, and financial institutions
  • Caring for a family member or pet in another household
  • Providing childcare for parents who have to go to work at jobs that are considered essential
  • Utilizing plumbers, electricians, exterminators and others who help maintain the safety and sanitation of residences
  • Visiting a local park, greenway or nature preserve while practicing social distancing

Click here to view the full proclamation.