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On Wednesday, Mayor John Wait signed a second state of emergency and issued restrictions requiring residents to shelter in place. The order will take effect on Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m., and will remain in effect until 5 p.m., Thursday, April 16, or until modified or rescinded. The emergency proclamation says that:

1. All Clemmons residents must not travel or carry on any business except as allowed in the proclamation;
2. All public and private gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited (residents of households excepted);
3. Residents may engage in essential activities, like shopping for groceries or household items, picking up take-out food from restaurants, engaging in outdoor activities, taking care of others, or working as permitted in the proclamation;
4. If residents do any of these essential activities, among others outlined in the order, they must maintain a distance of at least six feet from other individuals as much as possible;
5. Essential businesses should continue to operate, and they must comply as much as possible with social distancing requirements (six feet of separation);
6. Non-essential businesses may also continue to operate, but they must do so by complying with social distancing requirements and keep gatherings to 10 people or less;
7. Non-essential entry into the village is discouraged, but not prohibited; and
8. Restrictive precautions and screenings for employees at nursing home and elder care facilities is encouraged but not required.

If residents and businesses can comply with these restrictions before this Friday, they are strongly urged to do so. Given the confirmation of community spread in Forsyth County, and the inability to conduct widespread testing, sheltering in place is the best option to prevent spread of the virus.

Mayor Wait consulted extensively with local health officials from Novant, local leaders and elected officials, and staff before drafting and signing the proclamation. It is hoped that this order will prevent local healthcare providers from being overwhelmed in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in or near Clemmons, especially when combined with the new restrictions going into effect today from Governor Cooper. Mayor Wait has been and will continue to communicate and work with neighboring municipalities, Forsyth County, and the state to combat this emergency.

The governor has assured local leaders that the state’s supply lines for food and essential household items are strong. Clemmons residents should not to overbuy or hoard food and household items. The proclamation will be constantly evaluated and reviewed during the next few weeks based on the latest news and updates.