On March 18, the Hyde County Board of Commissioners met in an emergency meeting and enacted a State of Emergency for all of Hyde County in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State of Emergency is effective at 10 a.m. March 18. This emergency declaration will allow county officials to implement any restrictions needed to help restrict the transmission of COVID-19 and also allow for any emergency funding mechanisms from state and federal sources. As per the State of Emergency, the following restrictions are now in place for Hyde County.

• Mass gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited and we strongly discourage any gatherings of more than 10 people.
• Restaurant operations will be restricted to pick up and delivery orders only.
• The Hyde County Senior Center is closed until March 31, 2020.
• The Hyde County Adult Day Activities Program is closed until March 31, 2020.
• Visitor restrictions to Ocracoke begin March 19 at 5 a.m. This restriction only applies to new visitors to the island, there is not an evacuation order. It does not apply to workers, residents, vendors, or property owners. We will release more details on reentry guidelines by the end of the day.

In coordination with the Hyde County Health Director and in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all persons are urged to maintain social distancing, approximately six feet away from other people whenever possible, and to continue to wash hands, utilize hand sanitizer, and practice proper respiratory etiquette, including coughing into their elbows. We also encourage all Hyde County citizens and prospective visitors to postpone discretionary travel to and from the county.

Hyde County offices will remain open. However, in the interest of the safety of our visitors and staff, face-to-face contact will be limited. Before visiting Hyde County offices, please check the website or call us to verify if services can be received online or over the phone.

Hyde County will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation. County officials are working closely with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina Emergency Management, and the CDC for guidance as we move forward. As of 8 a.m. March 18, no individuals in Hyde County have tested positive for COVID-19.

During this pandemic, it’s extremely important to access reliable sources of information. For regularly updated information on COVID-19 in Hyde County visit the Public Health page at the Hyde County Health Department website hydehealth.com/public-health/ or follow their social media outlets. You can also find reliable information on COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website www.ncdhhs.gov/.