North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper giving an update on CODID-19 to the press. Source: NC Government
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced on April 23 that the stay at home order would be extended until May 8. After that, the state will begin to reopen with a three-phase plan.
Phase one of Cooper’s plan to reopen the state started Friday, May 8. The stay at home order remains in place with some modifications. To see what is being affected by the first phase, check out this helpful infographic posted by the North Carolina government.
We decided to ask Western Carolina students as well as university students from across the state to share their opinions on whether or not now is the right time for the state to begin opening operations.
Western Carolina University senior, Zackery Ward, says that right now ‘the economy is not in the position to be opened back up.
“I think it is crucial for the states to monitor their cases and how the virus is spreading. Maybe late may would be a better time to open.”
Desmond Worrell, a WCU junior and Inter-fraternity Council President for the 2020-2021 academic year, agrees with Gov. Cooper’s plan. “I think it is time for the economy to slowly open up,” he said.
Jada Green, a senior and public health major at North Carolina Greensboro University, said: “It is not the right time for the economy to open back up. As a society, we must be more cognizant of our health and how we may affect the health of someone else. Social distancing is a contributing factor in doing so and we must continue this in order to level out incidence rates in the world.”
CJ Hernandez, a junior at Appalachian State University, said, “I am conflicted because people are still dying, but our economy is collapsing right now.”
Joseph Steel, a senior at WCU, said, “I think that our safety should be our first concern, but I know that small businesses are struggling during these times so I hope they can open back up very soon.”
To see more student’s opinions, check out the photo story on Imgur.
