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WHEREAS, G.S. §166A-19.22, which is part of the North Carolina Emergency Management <br /> Act, authorizes cities to declare a state of emergency under conditions and following procedures <br /> contained in G.S. §166A-19.22; and <br /> WHEREAS, in Orange County, the powers to declare a state of emergency have been <br /> delegated to the Chair of the Board of Commissioners in accordance with G.S. §166A-19.22(a), and in <br /> Article II of Chapter 14 of the Orange County Code of General Ordinances; and <br /> WHEREAS, since execution of the March 13, 2020 Declaration of a State of Emergency and <br /> over the week prior to the execution of this March 25, 2020 Declaration of a State of Emergency <br /> ("Declaration") the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 has continued to increase in <br /> Orange County from 0 confirmed cases on March 18t"to 13 confirmed cases on March 25t"; and <br /> WHEREAS, since execution of these proclamations, the neighboring City of Durham <br /> continues to confirm new cases of the virus every day, and Durham County Health Officials indicate <br /> that as of March 24, 2020,there are 70 cases that have been identified in the County of Durham with <br /> roughly 8% of those cases now attributable to community spread, and the vast majority of those <br /> cases actually located within the City's jurisdictional boundaries, that Wake County has indicated it <br /> has 67 cases, that Chatham County has 6 confirmed cases, Alamance County has 2 confirmed cases, <br /> and Person County has indicated 1 confirmed case; and <br /> WHEREAS, there is substantial travel between Orange County and the above-referenced <br /> communities that could lead to increased COVID-19 cases in Orange County; and <br /> WHEREAS, neither the restrictions imposed by the Declaration, nor increasing recommended <br /> and mandatory restrictions imposed by the Governor and the President of the United States, have <br /> slowed the growth in the incidence of COVID-19 within Orange county, adjacent cities and counties, <br /> or in the State of North Carolina; and <br /> WHEREAS, in areas battling COVID-19, there is a severe shortage of medical supplies for <br /> health care workers and basic equipment to help the public avoid transmitting the disease; and <br /> WHEREAS,the Public Health Director of Orange County has determined it is essential to slow <br /> the community spread of COVID-19, that a Stay at Home order is critical to and will aid in slowing <br /> community spread, that such an order will provide relief to UNC Hospitals by limiting a surge in <br /> COVID-19 cases and reducing the number of new cases requiring treatment and hospitalization, that <br /> such an order will further protect the public health and welfare, and that such an order is both <br /> reasonable and necessary to remediate these critical issues; and <br /> www.orangecountync.gov <br /> Protecting and preserving—People,Resources,Quality of Life <br /> Orange County,North Carolina—You Count! <br /> (919)245-2130 <br />