South Guilford News

Greensboro City Council members defended Guilford County's stay-at-home order in April, but some lawmakers are questioning when the restrictions will end. 

City council members virtually met this month, for the first time under the stay-at-home order, where policymakers discussed COVID-19-related concerns while supporting following the public health restrictions, according to the News & Record. 

“If you don’t have to go anywhere, please don’t,” Councilwoman Sharon Hightower said, according to the publican, referring to the black community. Approxamley 40% of North Carolina's COVID-19 cases are within the black community, according to state numbers, despite representing only 22% of the population. 

“I’ve seen too many of you gathering," she said, according to the publication. 

Though council members encouraged residents to follow the stay-at-home orders, policymakers questioned how long the practice should continue, the News & Record reported. 

County officials have been discussing when the stay-at-home order should be lifted as well, according to the News & Record. 

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Jeff Phillips said in a written statement that, “Conversations about whether or not to extend the stay-at-home order are underway and will be ongoing right up until any final decisions are made later this week."

Local officials continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the county “to closely examine all the influencing factors to come to what we believe to be the most prudent decision for Guilford County at this time," Phillips said in his statement, according to the publication. “I’m not taking anything for granted and we’ve got to all continue to do our part whenever and wherever possible. But in my view, we may have stemmed the tide of what could have been a worst-case scenario for our area.”

The county's stay-at-home order puts several restraints on businesses as enacted by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, according to the News & Record. But Phillips said it is for the safety of the state's citizens. 

“We certainly can’t ever take our eye off the critical importance of the health and safety of our citizens,” Phillips said in his statement. “However, we also have to consider the painful influence of a continued and more restrictive Stay At Home order on our local and regional economy, including the extreme challenges facing many of our small businesses.”