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COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
Below you will find official COVID-19 information available from North Carolina State, Mecklenburg County, the Town of Davidson, and Davidson College. For the latest information, please refer to each agency's individual website to ensure you are receiving the most up-to-date news.
The Town of Davidson joins with all our partners to ask residents and visitors to abide by the 3 W's - wear a face covering, wait six feet apart when you cannot socially distance, and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer. This will help combat the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
For the latest data about the number of cases for the Davidson zip code (28036), please visit North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 interactive dashboard here. At the bottom of the dashboard, you can select "zip code" instead of county and search for 28036 to find results specifically for Davidson. The below results are produced from data from January 4, 2021.
For information and FAQs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, please click here.
North Carolina State Updates
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Governor Roy Cooper extended North Carolina's modified Stay-at-Home Order for three more weeks, until January 29. All current mandates and restrictions remain in place, including the requirement for people to remain at home between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Based on the alarming data (96 counties are either red or orange and the positivity rate is currently 17% statewide), Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), issued a directive highlighting the following:
- Only leave home for essential activities such as going to work or school, for health care purposes, to care for family members or to buy food.
- Avoid leaving home if you are over 65 or at high risk for developing serious illness. Use delivery services or alternative pick-up methods for food and retail.
- Avoid gathering with people who do not live with you.
- Wear a mask and keep distance from people when you leave home.
- Avoid any indoor public spaces where people are not wearing masks.
- Stay away from crowds. Avoid places where people may gather in large numbers.
The full directive can be found here.
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On Tuesday, December 8, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. Executive Order 181, which goes into effect Friday, December 11, requires people to stay at home between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The order will be in effect until at least January 8, 2021.
Order 181 requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10:00 p.m. Travel to and from work; to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services; or to take care of a family member is exempted. Read more in the Frequently Asked Questions document.
Governor Cooper was clear that further action would be taken to slow the spread of the virus if trends do not improve. This could require further limiting of restaurant dining, indoor entertainment or shopping and retail capacity restrictions, among other safety protocols.
Read Executive Order 181 here.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions here.
Read the slides from the December 8 briefing here.
Updated COVID-19 County Alert System Moves Mecklenburg to Orange
Dr. Cohen provided an update on North Carolina’s COVID-19 County Alert System map. The number of red counties (critical community spread) has more than doubled since November 23, up to 48 red counties. There are now 34 orange counties (substantial community spread).
With the most recent report, more than 80% of the state’s counties fall into the red or orange tier. Mecklenburg County is now classified as orange.
Read the update to see where each county stands and how the system was designed.
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On Monday, November 23, Governor Roy Cooper issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect on Wednesday, November 25 and runs through Friday, December 11.
To read the complete press release, please click here.
To read Executive Order No. 180, please click here.
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On Tuesday, November 17, Governor Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), announced a new COVID-19 County Alert System to pinpoint counties with the highest levels of viral spread and offer specific recommendations to bring numbers down. The map will be updated every four weeks.
The system uses metrics to categorize counties into three tiers as follows:
- Yellow: Significant Community Spread
- Orange: Substantial Community Spread
- Red: Critical Community Spread
The COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics in determining which tier a county falls into: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county. To be assigned to the red or orange tier, a county must meet the threshold for case rate for that tier as well as the threshold for either percent positive OR hospital impact.
- Case Rate: The number of new cases in 14 days per 100,000 people
- Percent Positive: The percent of tests that are positive over 14 days
- Hospital Impact: A composite score based on the impact that COVID-19 has had on hospitals including percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations, COVID-19 related visits to the emergency department, staffed open hospital beds, and critical staffing shortages over 14 days
Counties that do not meet the criteria for red or orange are categorized as being in the yellow tier (significant community spread), and it is recommended that those counties continue to be vigilant to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
To see Governor Cooper’s full press release, including recommended actions, please click here.
To view a pdf from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showing the current map, recommended actions for individuals, businesses, community organizations, and public officials to take, and county by county metrics, please click here.
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On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina would remain paused in Phase 3 due to the continued struggle against COVID-19 within the state. Further, Cooper announced that the indoor mass gathering limit would be lowered from 25 people to 10 people. The new Executive Order will remain in effect until at least December 4, 2020.
Read Executive Order No. 176 here.
Read the FAQ document here.
To view guidance related to Thanksgiving celebrations and Black Friday shopping – please click here.
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On Wednesday, October 21, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will remain in Phase 3 and continue implementing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Phase 3 will expire on November 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Both Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, urged North Carolinians to stay vigilant, as daily case counts and associated hospitalizations remain considerably above their levels on May 20, 2020, when the state announced Phase 2 of COVID-19 restrictions and reopening.
Read the full press release from the Governor’s Office.
Read the Executive Order.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Helpful Tool Reminder: SlowCOVIDNC app
SlowCOVIDNC is the official COVID-19 Exposure Notification app for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). It leverages Bluetooth technology to let app users know if they may have been exposed to COVID-19, enabling them to quickly act to protect themselves and their community. SlowCOVIDNC users can anonymously share a positive COVID-19 test result through the app to notify other app users who may have been in close contact with them of their exposure.
Read more about the SlowCOVIDNC app.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
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On Wednesday, September 30, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will further ease restrictions and also continue implementing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Phase 3 becomes effective at 5pm today, October 2, 2020, and remains in effect until Friday, October 23, 2020 at 5pm. Both Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, urged North Carolinians to stay vigilant, as the state's numbers are stable, but our position remains fragile.
Read the full press release from the Governor’s Office.
Read the Executive Order.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
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On Tuesday, September 1, Governor Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), provided an update on the state’s data trends related to several COVID-19 key metrics. Due to encouraging stabilization of specific indicators over the last several weeks, Governor Cooper announced the state would be moving into a modified “Safer at Home” Phase 2.5 beginning this Friday, September 4, 2020 through October 2, 2020.
Read the full press release from the Governor’s Office.
Read the Executive Order.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
For information about how this impacts the Town of Davidson and its residents, please click here.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2020, Governor Cooper extended North Carolina's Safer at Home Phase 2 Order for another five weeks, until September 11, 2020. All other previous requirements remain the same. This follows a previous three week extension from July 14-August 7, 2020.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order No. 147 which outlines the extension of the North Carolina Safer at Home Phase 2 Order as well as additional measures to protect lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the continued increase in North Carolina’s daily case counts of COVID-19, the percent of positive COVID-19 tests, and the increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19, Phase 2 will remain in effect until Friday, July 17, 2020 at 5:00p.m. In addition to extending Phase 2, North Carolina Executive Order 147 issues new requirements to wear face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This requirement goes into effect Friday, June 26, 2020 at 5:00pm. For full details, see North Carolina Executive Order No. 147. See the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service’s website for additional COVID-19 guidance.
On May 20, 2020 Governor Cooper signed Executive Order 141 to lift the North Carolina Stay at Home order, moving the state to a Safer at Home recommendation, and also to transition the state to Phase 2 of further easing certain COVID-19 restrictions effective Friday, May 22 at 5:00 p.m. (FAQs)
Governor Cooper signed Executive Order 138 to modify North Carolina’s Stay At Home order and transition to Phase 1 of slowly easing certain COVID-19 restrictions effective Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. (FAQs | Guidance)
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper extended the North Carolina Stay at Home Order has been extended through May 8. Gatherings of more than 10 people are banned and everyone should stay at least 6 feet apart. (Press release) Governor Cooper has also released North Carolina’s plan to lift restrictions based on virus trends. In sharing a path for easing certain restrictions, Governor Cooper says more progress is needed in testing, tracing and trends.
On Thursday, April 9, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 131 which includes stronger statewide social distancing requirements for retail stores still operating. Stores are required to limit the number of customers in the store at any one time and mark six-foot distances for customers at check-out counters. Employers are urged to provide sneeze shields and other protective gear to workers. In addition, the order also makes earlier COVID-19 guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities and issues changes to speed up certain benefit payments to those who are out of work. This additional order from Governor Roy Cooper goes into effect on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Read the press release and the FAQs.
On Friday, March 27, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 121, a statewide Stay at Home Order beginning Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m. until April 29, 2020. The Executive Order directs people to stay at home except to visit essential businesses, to exercise outdoors or to help a family member. Specifically, the order bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to physically stay at least six feet apart from others. Read the press release and the FAQs. For more information, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website here.
This order supersedes the Stay at Home Order already in place in Mecklenburg County and the Town of Davidson.
For the latest information from the State of North Carolina with regards to COVID-19, please visit North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website here.
Mecklenburg County Updates
For the most up-to-date information from Mecklenburg County Public Health, please visit the county's COVID-19 webpage here.
As the number of COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County continues to grow at an exponential rate – from an average of 100 cases per day in September, to an average of 900 cases per day in mid-January – Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris issued a specific directive for the people of Mecklenburg County for the next three weeks, beginning January 12, 2021. The Directive is effective immediately and will remain in effect for the next three weeks, until February 2, 2021.
The Directive instructs individuals in Mecklenburg County to take several immediate actions including (but not limited to):
- Only leave your home for essential activities and remain at home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless an exception as set forth in the Governor's Executive Order
- Utilize full-virtual options for work, school and any other activity where in-person activity is not required.
- Avoid leaving your home if you are over 65 or at high-risk for developing serious illness.
- Avoid any non-essential travel.
- Avoid gathering with individuals that you do not live with.
- WEAR a cloth face covering, WAIT 6 feet apart and avoid close contact, and WASH your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
- Quarantine and get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Answer the call and participate in contact tracing to protect against further spread if you receive a call or text from Mecklenburg County Public Health.
- Get a flu shot and get the get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
A full list of immediate actions individuals should take is available here.
More information about the COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County and the COVID-19 vaccine is available at www.MeckNC.gov/COVID-19 or by calling the Public Health COVID-19 hotline at 980-314-9400.
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On October 2, 2020, Mecklenburg County moved to Phase 3 with the rest of the State of North Carolina. The county plans to remain in Phase 3 for the remainder of Governor Cooper's executive orders.
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Mecklenburg County, in conjunction with the City of Charlotte and the towns of Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville, announced a joint proclamation with additional business restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions go into effect on Thursday, July 23, 2020 and will remain in effect while North Carolina remains in Phase Two of the state’s “Stay Safer at Home” Order that is currently effective until August 7, 2020. You may find the joint proclamation here.
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As of May 22, 2020 at 5 p.m. Mecklenburg County has entered Phase 2 of reopening with the rest of the State of North Carolina under Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 141.
Mecklenburg County residents are under North Carolina’s Safer At Home Phase 2 of lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Phase 2
- The Three Ws: WEAR a face covering, WAIT six feet apart, and WASH your hands often.
- To learn more about N.C. Safer at Home Phase 2, call 211.
Follow the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) for statewide information and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for national and international information.
As a reminder, for the latest, most up-to-date information, visit the Mecklenburg County Public Health website here.
Town of Davidson Updates
- The Town of Davidson Amendment to the State of Emergency Proclamation may be found here.
- Town of Davidson residents are under Phase 3 of lifting the North Carolina COVID-19 restrictions.
- Town buildings, including town hall, remain closed to the public.
- Information about local businesses may be found here.
- All town-sponsored events are being re-evaluated considering COVID-19. The latest update is available here.
- All Mecklenburg County, North Carolina State, and federal orders are in effect in the Town of Davidson.
- The Town of Davidson State of Emergency Proclamation may be found here.
- Information on How You Can Help is available here.
October 2, 2020 - NC Moves to Phase 3 Today at 5pm
Earlier this week, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will further ease restrictions and also continue implementing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Phase 3 becomes effective at 5pm today, October 2, 2020, and remains in effect until Friday, October 23, 2020 at 5pm. Both Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, urged North Carolinians to stay vigilant, as the state's numbers are stable, but our position remains fragile.
Read the full press release from the Governor’s Office.
Read the Executive Order.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
You may view the full message from the Town of Davidson here.
September 22, 2020 - Fall Town of Davidson Events Update
As we now enter a new season for 2020, the Town of Davidson continues to balance the evolving situation with COVID-19 with the desire to gather as a community for some of our favorite annual events. Until October 2, 2020, North Carolina remains in Phase 2.5 which limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people. This restriction, along with the unpredictability of COVID-19 and potential moves to subsequent phases, makes it impractical to plan mass gatherings for the next couple of months.
Read more here.
September 3, 2020- NC Moves into a Phase 2.5 on Friday, September 4 at 5:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, September 1, Governor Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), provided an update on the state’s data trends related to several COVID-19 key metrics. Due to encouraging stabilization of specific indicators over the last several weeks, Governor Cooper announced the state would be moving into a modified “Safer at Home” Phase 2.5 beginning this Friday, September 4, 2020 through October 2, 2020.
Read the full press release from the Governor’s Office.
Read the Executive Order.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
For information about how this impacts the Town of Davidson and its residents, please click here.
August 7, 2020 - Town Manager Jamie Justice Provides Davidson COVID-19 Update
Davidson’s Town Manager Jamie Justice provides residents with a brief update on COVID-19 in light of Governor Cooper’s announcement earlier this week extending Phase 2 "Safer at Home" until mid-September.
Watch his video here or by clicking below!
For the latest, local health information about COVID-19, visit the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department website here.
For information about Davidson’s local businesses and the town COVID-19 efforts, please visit our website at townofdavidson.org.
July 22, 2020 - Davidson Adopts New Late-Night Alcohol Restrictions, Event Cancellations
Mecklenburg County, in conjunction with the City of Charlotte and the towns of Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville, announced a joint proclamation with additional business restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions go into effect tomorrow after it is posted on MeckNC.gov, and the towns’ websites. (HERE.) It will remain in effect while North Carolina remains in Phase Two of the state’s “Stay Safer at Home” Order that is currently effective until August 7, 2020.
For the full message, click here.
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Last week, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina would remain in Phase 2 of its reopening plan until at least August 7, 2020. During Phase 2, outdoor gatherings are still limited to 25 people. This restriction, along with the continued unpredictability and active community spread of COVID-19 in our area, makes it impractical to plan mass gatherings for the rest of the summer.
Accordingly, the Town of Davidson has canceled the following events:
All remaining Concerts on the Green and Concerts at the Circle:
- August 2 - 20 Ride
- August 15 - Chunky Daddy
- August 23 - Gospelfest
- September 6 - The Legacy Motown Revue
- September 19 - L.A. Maybe
- September 20 - The Davidson College Symphony & Jazz Ensemble
- October 17 - Rusty Knox/Carolina Soul Band
The following events will also be canceled:
- National Night Out - August 4
- Davidson Connections- August 6
- Davidson Connections - September 3
Several events, including board of commissioner meetings, advisory board meetings, public hearings, and community meetings, will continue to occur virtually. Information on these events will be posted at the Town of Davidson website at www.townofdavidson.org.
June 26, 2020 - North Carolina’s Phase 2 Safer at Home Extended, New requirement to wear face coverings added
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order No. 147 which outlines the extension of the North Carolina Safer at Home Phase 2 Order as well as additional measures to protect lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the continued increase in North Carolina’s daily case counts of COVID-19, the percent of positive COVID-19 tests, and the increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19, Phase 2 will remain in effect until Friday, July 17, 2020 at 5:00p.m. In addition to extending Phase 2, North Carolina Executive Order 147 issues new requirements to wear face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This requirement goes into effect today, Friday, June 26, 2020 at 5:00pm. Read the rest of the message here.
June 18, 2020 - A Message from Davidson’s Board of Commissioners
Dear Davidson Neighbors,
We know many of you have been watching the news over the last few weeks. While our attention has rightfully been turned to racial equity and the Black Lives Matter movement, we can’t forget that we are still in the midst of a nationwide pandemic with COVID-19. While the news from several other states is encouraging, unfortunately, the situation in North Carolina puts us among one of about twenty states with data trending in the wrong direction. Mecklenburg County is an area of concern for state and local health officials, and Davidson is most certainly included in that mix.
Here are a few things we’d like for you to remember:
- PLEASE WEAR A MASK. There’s been a lot of debate and misinformation out there about the effectiveness of the use of masks, but health officials are still recommending that all individuals who can wear a mask do so in public when social distancing is not possible. It is also important to remember to keep six feet of distance between yourself and other individuals when in public, and wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. The town has sponsored an awareness campaign reminding residents and visitors of the importance of wearing masks, placed decals on the ground to urge folks to physically distance, and will be installing hand sanitizer stations in high traffic areas around town.
- SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. We’ve got to continue to support our local businesses. The town has added several new benches, tables with attached seating and umbrellas, and more trash and recycling bins. This will enable more residents to grab takeout from one of our great local restaurants and find a good spot to chow down while maintaining social distance and keeping our town clean. We hope you’ll make good use of it all.
- GET TESTED IF YOU HAVE BEEN PROTESTING IN PUBLIC. Mecklenburg County Public Health is recommending that anyone who has been participating in large group protests should seek testing for COVID-19, even if they are asymptomatic. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has developed a testing site locator dashboard you can access here. While there are currently no testing sites listed in Davidson’s city limits, there are several sites nearby, including the CVS at 2002 Shiloh Church Rd in Davidson, Novant Health Urgent Care at 19285 Old Jetton Road #100 in Cornelius, Novant Health GoHealth Urgent Care at 9121 Sam Furr Road Suite 108 in Huntersville, and Novant Screening Center at 16525 Holly Crest Lane Suite 120 in Huntersville. The dashboard will continually be updated as more testing sites and information is available. For those who have protested publicly, we have confirmed with the Mecklenburg County Health Department that you CAN say yes that you are part of a high-risk group when filling out the testing form, even if you are asymptomatic. Some test forms will specifically ask if you have been involved in protesting, and you may answer accordingly there if applicable. Residents who have questions about COVID-19 and are seeking testing are still encouraged to speak to their doctor or call Mecklenburg County Public Health’s COVID-19 help line at 980-314-9400.
- BE RESILIENT: This remains a very tough situation for many of us, and we ask for your continued patience and resilience. We’re all doing our best to care for ourselves, our families, and each other. The most recent data shows that Davidson has 44 confirmed cases and 3 deaths, which cannot all be accounted for in congregate care facilities. COVID-19 is truly a crisis for our wider community. Please let us know if there’s a way we can provide support that we may not have already thought of by emailing board@townofdavidson.org.
Next week, Governor Cooper will likely make an announcement regarding the next phase for North Carolina. We expect this decision to be based on data and recommendations from health officials at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. As always, Davidson will continue to work closely with Mecklenburg County and the County’s Public Health Department, and we will make the best decisions we can to protect the health and safety of our town moving forward.
Best,
Mayor Rusty Knox
Commissioner Jane Campbell
Commissioner Jim Fuller
Commissioner Matthew Fort
Commissioner Autumn Rierson-Michael
Commissioner David Sitton
June 9, 2020- Town of Davidson Launches Significant Mask Wearing Effort to Support Public Health in Town
The Town of Davidson announces the launch of its public awareness campaign to encourage residents, business employees, and town visitors alike to wear masks and help protect the public health of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, the Davidson Board of Commissioners called a special meeting to discuss the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of this meeting, the board decided to strongly recommend that the public use masks in all spaces where social distancing is not possible. To support this effort, the town created a public awareness campaign which includes:
- banners posted in public spaces to remind people of the three Ws (“wear, wait, wash”)
- signage for storefront windows designating that the business requires both employees and customers to wear masks
- decals to help depict proper social distancing spacing on Main Street, and
- car magnets to encourage neighbors to wear masks for the safety of our entire town and all our residents.
Read more here.
May 22, 2020- North Carolina Enters Phase 2 of Reopening Today at 5pm, Safer at Home
Governor Cooper issued Executive Order No. 141 that outlines what is allowed in North Carolina under Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. The Order moves North Carolina into a Safer at Home “Phase 2” of easing certain COVID-19 restrictions. The information is subject to change in light of new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and additional Executive Orders or local government declarations.
- Phase 2 begins on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 5:00p.m. and remains in place until June 26, 2020, unless changed or cancelled.
- The Order lifts the Stay at Home Order. However, it is important to stay home if you are sick.
- While in public, people should wear a cloth face covering, practice social distancing by waiting six feet apart from others while in public, and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
- High-risk individuals are urged to stay at home and travel only for absolutely essential purposes. The CDC defines high-risk individuals as:
- People 65 years or older; and
- People of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, including: people who are immunocompromised or have chronic lung disease, moderate-to-severe asthma, serious heart conditions, severe obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis, or liver disease.
- Town of Davidson’s Town Hall and other facilities remain closed to the public at this time.
Read more here.
May 20, 2020 - Town of Davidson Holds Special Meeting Discussing COVID-19 Response
INCREASING CONCERN
The Town of Davidson Board of Commissioners called a special meeting last night to discuss the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the threat of the novel coronavirus became apparent in our community, the Town of Davidson has been working under the umbrella of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management and Mecklenburg County Public Health to best address the crisis. At the end of April, Mecklenburg County and the six towns, including Davidson, shifted from the countywide Stay-at-Home Order to the North Carolina statewide Stay-at-Home Order. On May 8, 2020, the Town of Davidson moved to Phase 1 of reopening under Governor Cooper’s Executive Order, aligning Davidson and the rest of Mecklenburg County with the majority of the State of North Carolina.
With increasing concern about this course of action, the Town of Davidson Board of Commissioners spoke at length during their May 12, 2020 work session about the potential need to enact further restrictions within the town in order to best protect our community. Elected officials charged staff with researching a number of potential options that the board could choose to pursue if they decided to forge a different path from the rest of Mecklenburg County and/or the State of North Carolina. These options were presented and discussed last night at a special board of commissioners meeting called specifically for that purpose.
MASKS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED; TOWN PLANS TO MOVE TO PHASE 2 WITH STATE
The Davidson Board of Commissioners decided to strongly recommend the use of masks by the public in all spaces where social distancing is not possible. The town will begin a public awareness campaign that will include signage posted in many public spaces around town and sharing the message digitally on social media and through the town’s website and email channels. The town board also requested that if businesses decide to require face coverings for employees and patrons, then they should post signage for public notification purposes. The town will also seek to make masks available for those who need them. More details about pick-up locations and their hours will be forthcoming.
As a reminder, whether you are wearing a face mask as encouraged or not, all individuals are also asked to observe social distancing as much as possible and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer often. This plea is to ensure the safety of our community.
At the meeting, the board of commissioners also indicated that Davidson will follow Mecklenburg County and the State of North Carolina in the move to Phase 2 as recommended by county and state health officials. Further steps will be taken within the Town of Davidson to ensure the health and safety of our residents as much as possible, such as the addition of hand sanitizer stations at various high traffic locations around town, providing businesses with signage to help their customers maintain the important physical distance that keeps the spread of COVID-19 down, and more. The board will continue to monitor the situation closely in order to advocate for the best interests concerning the health and safety of Davidson residents and businesses as the COVID-19 crisis continues.
May 8, 2020 - North Carolina Enters Phase 1 of Reopening Today at 5pm, Stay-at-Home Order Remains in Effect
Governor Cooper issued Executive Order No. 138 that outlines what is allowed in North Carolina under Phase 1 of the state’s reopening plan. The information is subject to change in light of new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and additional Executive Orders or local government declarations.
- Phase 1 begins today, Friday, May 8, 2020 at 5:00p.m. and remains in place until 5:00p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020.
- The Stay-at-Home Order has not been lifted. People should continue to stay at home. Executive Order No. 138 increases the number of reasons people are allowed to leave. All North Carolina residents should continue to stay at home except for the purposes outlined in the order.
- Anyone who is feeling sick should stay home and leave the house only to seek health care or for some other necessary reason.
- COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, and state officials will continue to monitor key metrics. COVID-19 spreads easily from person to person, especially indoors or if people come in close contact for more than ten minutes. All residents should continue to exercise extreme caution when in public.
- Town of Davidson’s Town Hall and other facilities remain closed to the public during Phase 1.
Read more here.
May 5, 2020 - A Message from the Davidson Board of Commissioners
To the Davidson Community,
Last week, Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and all six towns decided to transition from a county-wide Stay-at-Home Order to follow under Governor Cooper’s wider Stay-at-Home Order for the entire state of North Carolina. This change means a few more businesses in town are now able to offer curbside pickup as the definition of “essential businesses” has been slightly broadened. The transition to the state Stay-at-Home Order also allowed for tennis courts and parking lots at both Fisher Farm and Abersham Park to open at the end of last week.
We want to highlight just a few more important things as we move under the state’s order.
- COVID-19 STILL A CONCERN: This does NOT mean COVID-19 is no longer a concern in our community. We urge all residents to continue to stay at home as much as possible, leaving your homes only for essential trips, washing your hands and practicing good hygiene, wearing masks in situations where social and physical distancing is difficult. More guidance is available here.
- RESPECT THE ORDER: For those residents and businesses impacted by the transition to the state order, we are depending on you all to respect the guidance in this order. Please adhere to all restrictions from the state to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help the data keep trending in the right direction. Only through your responsible actions, and continued adherence to the Stay-at-Home Order by all residents, can we help move the needle toward a Phase I reopening.
- BE PATIENT: We know this continues to be a difficult situation for most of you, but we ask for your continued patience. Be kind to yourselves and to each other. We know everyone is eager to return to normal, but we also all recognize “normal” is still a way off. In the interim, we can be smart and compassionate as we care for ourselves, our families and friends, our neighbors, our local businesses, and the community we love here in Davidson.
Read more here.
April 28, 2020 - Mecklenburg County Transitions to State Stay at Home Order
Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and the six county towns, have agreed to follow the State of North Carolina’s Stay at Home Order starting April 30.
Mecklenburg’s Stay at Home Order began March 26 and is more restrictive than the state order regarding certain businesses—including car dealerships, landscaping services, real estate brokerage, and other businesses not considered essential.
More details here.
April 22, 2020 - May Town of Davidson Events Canceled
As the situation continues to evolve with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Town of Davidson staff continue to work with Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management on the current situation and also planning for the days and weeks ahead. Mecklenburg County shared last week that the County’s Stay at Home Order remains in effect until April 29, 2020 to match the Governor’s Executive Order 121 for the State of North Carolina.
Although the order is scheduled to conclude at the end of April, the unpredictability of COVID-19 makes it impractical to plan mass gatherings for the days and weeks immediately following the potential lifting of the order. Being mindful of the health and safety of the Davidson community as well as being respectful to our vendors, artists, musicians, and partners for the various town-wide events, the following events have been canceled:
- Town Day/Bike Expo - May 2
- Concert on the Green - May 3
- Davidson Connections - May 7
- Concert at the Circle - May 16
- Heart-to-Heart Turkish Dinner - May 16
- Concert on the Green - May 17
- Tour de Trees - May 23
Town of Davidson staff remain dedicated to serving the community and will continue to look for ways to provide virtual engagement opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis. They are working on potentially rescheduling canceled events when possible and planning for the future.
April 20, 2020 - Davidson Businesses Thrive Online!
You all know local businesses are the heart of Davidson. They have been working hard over the last several weeks to be resourceful and continue to provide excellent service to the community and succeed during very difficult times. Read about a few things you might not have realized our businesses are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic here.
April 17, 2020 - Town of Davidson Stays Positive, Shares Love During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Town of Davidson has been sharing a lot of important information with you over the last several weeks with regards to COVID-19. Today, we thought we’d highlight some of the incredible stories YOU have shared with US over that same time – stories that have inspired us and warmed our hearts. Read all about them here.
April 16, 2020 - COVID-19 Updates for the Town of Davidson
As the situation continues to evolve with regards to COVID-19, we want to be sure to keep our community members in-the-know with the most current information for our area. Please take note of the three important updates below coming from Mecklenburg County and the State of North Carolina:
EXTENSION OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY STAY AT HOME ORDER
The Mecklenburg County Stay at Home Order has been extended to April 29, 2020 to match the Governor’s Executive Order 121 for the State of North Carolina. The County’s Stay at Home Order will extend if the Governor extends the Order for North Carolina. To view the full details of the extension, please click HERE.
GUIDANCE ON MASKS
The Mecklenburg County Public Health Department is advising residents to use simple cloth face coverings when in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies) in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help people who may be transmitting the virus without knowing it.
Most importantly, wearing a cloth face mask does NOT change the importance of complying with the state’s Stay at Home Order.
If you’d like information pertaining to the “dos and don’ts” of using a mask, please click HERE.
REQUIREMENTS FOR RETAIL STORES
This week, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 131 which offers clear requirements that essential businesses must implement in order to safeguard the health of customers and employees. Some of the directives include:
- Setting limits of how many people can be in a store at one time, 5 people per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% of fire marshal posted occupancy limits
- Marking six feet of distance in areas where people gather, such as checkout lines
- Requiring specific cleaning measures for retail stores
To read the state’s press release pertaining to Executive Order 131, click HERE. For the full Executive Order, click HERE.
April 14, 2020 - A Message from Mayor Rusty Knox about COVID-19
Earlier this morning, Mayor Rusty Knox filmed this video and shared a few things he and the Davidson Board of Commissioners would like you all to keep in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 8, 2020 - Mecklenburg County Closes Parking Lots for County Parks
Mecklenburg County Commissioners announced last night, Tuesday, April 7, 2020, that park gates will be closed to all vehicles except bicycles. This closes all parking lots and auto traffic to these facilities effective today, April 8, 2020.
In Davidson, this closure affects both Fisher Farm Park and Abersham Park and closes the parking lots for both parks. All County parks remain open to the public for foot and bicycle traffic. Any cars parked illegally in closed lots or near the entrance to the parks will be towed.
Thank you for following these rules to help keep our community safe!
April 6, 2020 - Virtual Recreation Center is Now Open!
Running out of creative ways to spend your time at home? The Town of Davidson’s Parks and Recreation staff has compiled a list of suggestions for all ages, dubbed its Virtual Recreation Center, available here. We are committed to ensuring that our resilient community members have resources to maintain healthy lives, grow meaningful relationships and continue to have extraordinary experiences.
We plan to update the page regularly with new links, so if you have a favorite site or an interactive video, send it to us at dpr@townofdavidson.org.
April 3, 2020 - Town of Davidson Fire Department Thanks YOU
As we’re now just over a week into the Stay at Home Order, Town of Davidson Fire Chief Bo Fitzgerald took a moment to thank town residents for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic and expresses his appreciation for folks staying at home. He notes it has made a true difference for first responders in our community!
March 31, 2020 - Help Recognize Our Gnome Town Heroes
The Town of Davidson recognizes that many residents want to help our local businesses in any way they can. Many of you continue to purchase take out from our restaurants and shop online from our retailers. All of our businesses are grateful for the support from our residents!
Our local businesses are focused on keeping their virtual doors open, and we are working to get them the support that they need, including funding available from the Small Business Administration and through the CARES Act. When the town asked our businesses if they needed anything, their collective response was, “no, thank you, but how can we help the community?” That’s not something you expect from every group of local business owners, but it’s something for which we are so thankful here in Davidson. Our businesses truly prioritize and value our community so deeply. In turn, we hope we can count on you to help us show them how much we appreciate them.
Learn how here.
March 30, 2020 - An Update from Town Manager Jamie Justice
All,
It’s been a rough few weeks for everyone within the Town of Davidson community. We’ve faced new challenges together as we’ve moved through various responses to the coronavirus global pandemic – most recently moving to a Stay at Home order in Mecklenburg County that affects all Town of Davidson residents, followed at the end of last week with the announcement from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper that issued a Stay at Home Order for the entire state.
You’ve been receiving regular updates from the town as well as our elected officials about how we are handling this crisis at the local level. As the Town Manager, I can tell you I am extremely proud of how we have all been working together to ensure the health and safety of our community. It has also been particularly heartening to see the flurry of positivity going on in neighborhoods and in support of local businesses – this is not surprising for Davidson in the least, but still so good to see.
As the board noted in their last communication with you all, the team here has been working diligently to determine a path forward as appropriate for necessary town business, and I’d like to provide an update to that effect.
Read more here.
March 27, 2020- A Note from Mayor Rusty Knox and the Davidson Board of Commissioners
To the Davidson Community,
Yesterday, all of our cell phones simultaneously sounded at 7:50 a.m. The Stay at Home Order was about to take effect within Mecklenburg County, including those of us in the Town of Davidson. The COVID-19 pandemic is something that none of us expected to face while in office, or even in our lifetimes, but we can all agree these are unprecedented times.
Lucky for us, Davidson is a community unlike any other. If any town can (figuratively!) come together to meet a challenge head on, it’s Davidson.
Read the full message here.
March 24, 2020 - Mecklenburg County Issues Stay at Home Order
Mecklenburg County has issued a Stay at Home Order beginning Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. in order to further combat the spread of COVID-19 in our community. This order directs all Mecklenburg County, including all Town of Davidson residents living in both Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties, to shelter at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs. This order is valid through April 16, 2020 but will be regularly reviewed and evaluated and may be revised, amended, or extended accordingly, based upon recommendations by the Mecklenburg County Public Health Director and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management.
A full list of FAQs may be viewed here.
Davidson Event Cancellations and Parks & Recreation Facilities
As a part of this order, the Town of Davidson will be closing all active recreation features including basketball courts, playgrounds and tennis courts.
Additionally, with the new order in effect and the Governor’s order, the following events have been canceled or postponed. Please visit the Town of Davidson website at townofdavidson.org for more information about potential reschedule dates when that information becomes available.
- All April Parks & Recreation Programming
- Concerts at the Circle: Rusty Knox Band – April 18
- Gallery Crawl – April 24
- Earth Day 50th Anniversary Festival - April 25
- Art on the Green – April 25 and 26
Town of Davidson Police and Fire departments will continue normal operations. Public Works will continue to work with a limited crew. All other departments will be working remotely.
Town staff are currently working through a plan to conduct Board of Commissioners and Advisory Board meetings remotely that complies with the open meetings law. . More information will be provided as it becomes available.
There are no changes to the WastePro schedule for trash and recycling pick-up. Any adjustments will be communicated.
March 23, 2020 - Town of Davidson State of Emergency
Today, March 23, 2020, Mayor Rusty Knox signed a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in the Town of Davidson. You can view the full proclamation here.
March 19, 2020 - A Note from Mayor Rusty Knox
Friends, Neighbors, Davidson Family,
I think we all recognize that we live in a special place. Davidson is best when it’s time to pull together. This time – the ask is tough, though. How do you come together when you’re asked to maintain social distance, when you’re asked to work from home, schools are closed, businesses shutter, and nothing feels normal?
We do what we’ve always done. It just might look a little different this time.
Read the full message here.
March 17, 2020 - Town of Davidson Closes Town Buildings, Including Town Hall, to Public
With the ever-evolving guidance regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Town of Davidson has decided to make the proactive decision to close town buildings, including town hall, to the public to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in our community effective immediately.
Read the full message here.
March 16, 2020 - Town of Davidson Community Rallies to Support Local Businesses
Many Davidson retailers are offering specials and curbside pick-up during the next few weeks. Please consider supporting our local businesses by calling in to place orders and pick up in one of the conveniently marked parking spaces for pick-up.
See the full, and updated list, of local businesses offering curbside pick up, as well as those who have temporarily closed, here.
March 16, 2020 - Upcoming Events Canceled
Based upon recommendations from the Mecklenburg County Public Health limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people, the town is taking the following actions:
- Town Parks & Recreation programming and Civics 101 class will be suspended until further notice.
- Staff who can work remotely are being encouraged to do so.
- First responders remain ready and prepared to serve the public, following all recommended procedures and protocols.
The following town events will be canceled and rescheduled for later dates when possible:
Board of Commissioners and Advisory Boards
Livability Board Meeting – March 17 at 7pm at Davidson Town Hall
Design Review Board Meeting – March 18 at 7pm at Davidson Town Hall
Board of Commissioners Meeting – March 24 at 6pm at Davidson Town Hall
Board of Commissioners Q&A – March 26 at 6:30pm at The Linden
Planning Board Meeting - March 30 at 7pm at Davidson Town Hall
Community Events
Arbor Day Celebration – March 20 at 11am at Parks and Recreation
2nd Annual Mark Swaney Scholarship Basketball Game – March 20 at 4pm at Community School of Davidson
251 South Street Public Input Session – March 31 at 6pm at Ada Jenkins Center
Davidson Connections – April 2 at 9am at Homewood Suites
Beaty Park Volunteer Work Day – April 4 at Beaty Park
Read the full message here.
Davidson College Updates
Campus COVID-19 Testing and Dashboard
Davidson College maintains a webpage with further information about their COVID-19 testing. The webpage, which may be viewed here, also has links to FAQS with more details about ongoing testing, as well as community messages that have been emailed to campus.Davidson College Update to Town Board and Message to Community
On Tuesday, August 11, 2020, Davidson College staff joined the Davidson Board of Commissioners virtual meeting to officially share their plans for Fall 2020 with our elected officials and the public. The college will be offering a blend of in-person and virtual instruction for students to best meet the range of needs among their students and achieve their mission. Cleaning protocols have been enhanced, and the frequency of these cleanings has increased for all facilities. Dining options have expanded and shifted to offer better options in line with health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be a higher number of students living off-campus in town than is typical during a fall semester, partly due to the absence of overseas programs. College leaders have made those students aware of the college’s and the town’s expectations. Students living on campus are being encouraged to remain on campus as much as possible to help protect their classmates and neighbors in the community. More details about the college’s reopening plans are available here; you may watch the presentation here.
Limited Access for Town Residents
The college continues to welcome its neighbors to walk on campus, asking that visitors follow safety guidelines of facemasks and social distance. All buildings will be closed to the public and will also require a college CatCard for entry. Please note, while face coverings are not required while walking outside in the Town of Davidson, they should be worn at all times while on campus.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and increased usage by athletes, Davidson College will be limiting use of the track at Richardson Stadium to students, faculty and staff. A college CatCard will be required for entry.
The Davidson College cross-country trails remain open, except during team practices. The trails will be closed to the public on weekdays (Monday-Friday) 6:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. On Saturday, the cross-country trails will be closed to public from 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Signs will be placed at entrances to the trail on August 18 or 19. Please be respectful of these hours.
For the latest information, please refer to the college's website at www.davidson.edu.