News Flash

[Wilkesboro, NC, March 25, 2020] – The towns of Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Ronda have updated their joint State of Emergency declaration. This update extends the prohibitions on gatherings and closes certain recreational amenities. The enhanced State of Emergency declaration is designed to fight against the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19. 

“We’re just trying to be proactive and get out in front of this,” said Wilkesboro Mayor Mike Inscore.

Specifically, the declarations now prohibit mass gatherings of ten (10) or more people together at the same time and location. This prohibition is recommended by the Federal Government and health professionals as a way to limit opportunities for person-to-person transmission of the virus. The previous declaration prohibited gatherings of fifty (50) or more.

The enhanced declaration also closes recreational amenities like playground equipment, picnic shelters, and outdoor athletic courts, both publicly or privately owned, within the municipal limits. All these amenities encourage mass gatherings, and many have surfaces where the virus can live and be transmitted to residents by touch. All reservations at Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Ronda parks are cancelled.

“No doubt about it, not being able to gather in groups and not being able to use all our public amenities is a huge change to our way of life,” said North Wilkesboro Mayor Robert Johnson, “but the health experts I trust tell me that these are the kinds of thing we need to do to stop the coronavirus from spreading.”

Amenities such as trails and fields remain open for individual use. Residents are strongly encouraged to practice social distancing even when they are outside.

Inscore added a message to town residents: “Please believe the action we are taking is in everyone’s best interest! Our responsibility is to protect your welfare, health, and safety.”

The enhanced restrictions began at 12:00 noon, on Thursday, March 25, 2020.

The State of Emergency will be in place through April 30, 2020.