Restaurants and Bars Will Shut Down at 5 p.m. Tuesday

Establishments will still be allowed to provide food for takeout and delivery. 

Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Twitter that he is issuing an order to shut down dining in all North Carolina bars and restaurants, effective at 5 p.m. today. Establishments will still be allowed to provide food for takeout and delivery. 

The executive order will also expand unemployment insurance for workers whose job status will be affected by the coronavirus epidemic.

Governors in at least five other states — California, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington — have taken similar actions in attempts to slow down the virus.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine took to Twitter to explain the moves. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but we will work to mitigate the suffering. It is our goal for everyone to get through this,” he wrote. “Every day we delay, more people will die.”

The North Carolina measure comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases more than doubled over the weekend. Friday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 15 diagnoses. At about 9 a.m. Tuesday, the count had reached 40. 

The state announced Monday that there are enough tests for 1,300 people.