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Cherokee County Commissioners have rescinded all county-level COVID-19 restrictions. The declaration is also a statement to the governor to allow each county to decide when to re-open local businesses, explains the commissioners.
Cherokee County remains in a state of emergency and the statewide stay-at-home order is still in effect. The declaration states that all prior emergency orders issued by the county commissioners are now "vacated."
On April 30, lodging accommodations will reopen in the county and non-residents will not be required to self-quarantine for 14-days upon arrival.
Commissioner Gary Westmoreland says he was the only commissioner to vote against the declaration. He says that he thinks it’s too early to reopen any businesses - especially because of the high percentage of elderly people in the county.
“I just don’t want to see an increase in cases. I guess I do have to say that I’m worried about it because that is the prime age,” says Westmoreland.
Westmoreland says commissioners issued the declaration in part to work with local Rep. Kevin Corbin(R). Corbin says he plans to give Governor Cooper a letter on Wednesday asking him to let counties make their own decisions on businesses reopening.
“I want this to be a county level decision and not decisions made from Raleigh,” explains Corbin via text. The NC General Assembly convened today to discuss COVID-19 relief legislation.
Westmoreland says he agrees that rural counties should have their own say:
“I think counties should. I mean we are going to be a lot clearer here in Jackson County or in Graham County than in Mecklenburg County, There’s no doubt about that,” says Westmoreland.
The towns of Murphy and Andrews still have curfews and other restrictions in place. There are currently 23 positive cases of COVID-19 out of 661 tests in the county.
