Gaston County Commissioners announced that they would sign an order reopening county businesses, despite North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order — but warned that the governor's order supersedes the county’s.
Chairman Tracy Philbeck said that the county would support and stand with those who want to open their businesses.
The April 29 order to reopen county businesses states:
“From a function standpoint, Gaston County Government will continue to follow all state laws, including Gov. Cooper’s executive order. At no point would county leadership ask its staff or county residents to break the law. In all of this, Gaston County’s Board of Commissioners want to make clear its support for the residents of our county to get back to work.”
Gaston County Public Information Officer Adam Gaub told WBTV that there has been no direct communication between Governor Cooper and the Gaston County manager, but confusion exists with county businesses.
“There’s been some confusion over this," Gaub said. "The chairman (Philbeck) is trying to make a point that this is an unprecedented crisis and at some point continuing with the status quo while businesses are going under isn’t sustainable.”
Although Gaston County Chair Philbeck said in a Facebook Live that he would stand with business owners even though the state says they can’t, not everyone agrees.
“I say go to work. If they want to go to work, I will be supportive of that,” said Philbeck.
Cooper’s office issued a statement referring to Gaston County’s news on the afternoon of April 29.
“This order’s only effect is to create confusion during a public health emergency, which is dangerous,” the statement read. “The Gaston County order itself says that the statewide Stay At Home order remains in effect, and state leaders urge people to continue following it.”
North Carolina's stay at home order remains in effect until May 8.
In Gaston County, 145 COVID-19 cases and three deaths have been reported as of May 4, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
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