Coronavirus clampdown: Governments declare a State of Emergency

    Murphy – Although the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners decided not to issue a State of Emergency on Thursday, Chairman Roy Dickey declared one at noon Monday. Both the Town of Andrews and Town of Murphy declared their own Friday morning.
    “A State of Emergency is a tool which gives government some flexibility in responding to unusual circumstances,” Dickey wrote in a letter to county residents. “I believe this is merited in our current COVID-19 response execution due to the complexity of the response planning which is taking place.”
    No further actions were taken by the county Monday.
    Both towns established curfews starting Friday night. In Murphy, pedestrians were prohibited in the town limits – except for customers or employees walking to their vehicles – from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. In Andrews, pedestrians were prohibited from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., but was changed to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday. Violators could face imprisonment or a fine.
    “It will make the town a much safer place,” Andrews Mayor James Reid said during an outdoor emergency meeting of the board of aldermen Friday morning. “I think what we’re doing for our town is the very best.”
    Reid said in Andrews, the curfew would not affect citizens performing their regular activities, like morning jogs. He added that they are not going to target any individuals.
    He said he knows anxiety is high and wants residents to not have to worry about late-night crime. Reid also wants some residents to get more serious about the illness, adding that a lot of people were exposed to the virus in Cherokee County at a contra dance.
    “Do not take it as a joke,” Reid said. “Just take care of yourself. Be vigilant. Don’t do anything stupid.”
    Reid was also concerned about how the curfew would affect the homeless population. Pat Meeks, homeless shelter manager at the Hurlburt-Johnson Friendship House, said they do have a few beds available. If there is a need, she said adjustments – like how the shelter opens for cold weather nights – could be made to serve the community.
    On Monday, Murphy Mayor Rick Ramsey proclaimed additional restrictions that closed recreation areas, including playgrounds at both Konehete Park and Murphy Elementary School. The River Walk remains open, but is restricted to groups of five people or less. Reid also closed all parks and recreational areas within Andrews on Monday.
    Cherokee County Health Director David Badger said the county has looked at different scenarios due to potential effects of the virus and have contingency plans prepared, if needed. He added that it was a positive that there was still no community spread in the county as of Monday afternoon.
    Decisions by neighboring could affect locals, too. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, 903 Cherokee County residents work in-state but in another county.
    Clay County had not declared a State of Emergency as of Monday.
    On Friday, Graham County declared a state of emergency, initially setting a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. By Saturday morning, Commission Chairman Dale Wiggins announced that the county’s Emergency Management Committee decided that all accommodation businesses would have to close for business by noon Monday, and that roads entering the county – except the detour route around the Nantahala Gorge – would be closed to non-residents by Friday.
    “We understand that this decision will impact a lot of people. It will cause people to be temporarily laid off from work,” Wiggins wrote on social media. “We accept that these are drastic steps to some degree, but we have to do what is necessary to keep people safe.”
    On Sunday, he explained the actions of the committee by saying there are no medical facilities in Graham County to treat for the virus, and the county has only two ambulances. He added that a third of the paramedics that serve the county are from other counties, and if there’s an “outbreak” in those counties, those paramedics would be prohibited from entering Graham.
    By Monday, he commented that a permit system would be in place soon to allow people to apply for entry for work, doctor appointments and other reasons. He also had strong words for tourists Monday morning.
    “Just don’t come,” he wrote.