‘This is not a hoax’: Wilmington leaders debate ways to ‘shut off’ virus spread

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council voted Monday morning to approve additional COVID-19 restrictions put in place by New Hanover County.

The statewide “stay-at-home” order starts at 5 p.m. Monday.

New Hanover County passed a resolution this weekend, calling for additional restrictions.

“Because if we don’t take these important steps now, it will be likely that this virus will have a devastating effect in the weeks and months to come,” County Commission Chair Julia Olson-Boseman said.

Wilmington City Council debated whether these restrictions are sufficient for now or to add more restrictions.

Councilman Kevin O’Grady says he thinks the restrictions will work as long as everyone follows them.

“Everybody you come in close contact with, everybody you touch, you’re touching everybody they touched,” O’Grady said.

Council discussed to closure of car dealerships except for repairs service. O’Grady says it’s very difficult to limit the amount of contact at dealerships, especially when different people are test driving cars.

“How will they ensure that with each successive use of the test vehicle, that it will be cleaned sufficiently?” O’Grady said. “That there will be no spread?”

If dealerships can come up with a cleaning protocol that is approved by the health department, O’Grady says they can consider allowing them to stay open.

Among other things, council discussed how to make big-box stores limit sales to essential items only and how to crack down on people violating social distancing rules on coastal islands.

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The restrictions include closing all public amusement facilities including playgrounds, public gardens, and country clubs.

“We have to all consider ourselves radioactive,” O’Grady said.

Golf courses may remain open but only walking golfers or one golfer per cart is allowed.

Restaurants that require customers to enter the building to get their food must close or adjust to only curb-side or delivery service.

Hotels and motels will be open only to essential workers traveling into New Hanover County, and hospital staff who are distancing from their families.

Council also talked about what jurisdiction the islands and waterways fall under. With groups of people taking boats out to the islands this past weekend, O’Grady says the city, county and Coast Guard need to work together to figure out who must enforce those rules.

“And if everybody does this,” O’Grady said. “If everybody separates, we have a better chance of keeping future infections down.”

These changes will last for at least 14 days.