Murphy Reacts to North Carolina Stay at Home Order Extension | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Washington, D.C.     Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) issued the following statement after Governor Roy Cooper announced he is extending the stay at home order for the state of North Carolina until May 8. The previous stay at home order was set to expire on April 29.

    "First and foremost, as a physician and a member of Congress, the health and well-being of North Carolinians has been and continues to be the single most important factor to me during this pandemic. We are in uncharted clinical waters but, given the interventions enacted so far, we have fared very well. Social distancing has become the norm and face masks are commonplace. Our hospitals have had time to implement policies that protect healthcare workers and care for patients for a surge that hopefully will never fully materialize. That said I continue to be tremendously worried about the welfare of the thousands of small businesses across the states and the millions they employ. I am also immensely concerned about patients who would normally be receiving lifesaving routine medical care that are not receiving it because of the restrictions that have been put in place," said Murphy.

    "The Governor has continued the present statewide restrictions until May 8th. As a physician and scientist, I am looking at the same data. As pendulums swing, this one did appropriately to one side. I think we have a wealth of indicators that tell us we can begin using safe measures to slowly reopen segments of our economy. Today's unemployment rate measured 20 percent compared to the Great Depression in 1929. Unemployment creates poverty and poverty creates despair. I fear if we continually push reopening down the road, we may pass a point extremely difficult to return from," continued Murphy.

    "I had hoped the Governor would implement a plan that would have loosened some restrictions. To be clear, however, I am not in favor of an aggressive reopening of the economy. COVID-19 remains a serious threat to high-risk North Carolinians like those with underlying conditions and those over 65. But if we all put our heads together and think of innovative ways to limit human contact at places like restaurants, barber shops and other small businesses, we can slowly and progressively reopen the economy," concluded Murphy.

• Michael Mead
• Communications Director
• Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03)
• Ph: (202) 225-3415
• michael.mead@mail.house.gov