text: Stay at home order to take effect in Madison County
  Coronavirus: Madison County issues stay at home order
  A stay at home order will take effect in Madison County beginning Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m. County government and public health officials made the announcement in a press release, a video presentation and through the county's emergency alert system roughly 10 hours before it would take effect.
  "Failure to comply with this declaration is a Class 2 misdemeanor," the order, posted to the county's website, states.
  The stay at home declaration marks a progression from the county's shelter-in-place recommendation sent via the county's emergency alert system March 23.
  "We have taken this step because it is essential to slow viral transmission as much we can, protect the most vulnerable in our community and to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed," County Manager Mark Pulliam said in the video announcing the order.
  Pulliam sat beside Madison County Health Director Tammy Cody in the video announcement as both read from prepared statements outlining order. Cody said county the step "is being taken because of the risk of the rapid community spread of the virus."
  "The declaration requires all individuals anywhere in Madison County to stay home, except for certain essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services or to perform essential infrastructure (services)," Cody said in the video.
  Cody read from national and state statistics to outlining the spread of COVID-19. Though Madison County did not have a confirmed case at the time of the presentation, Cody has said for weeks that is likely due to the lack of test kits and the delay in getting test results means rather than the absence of the virus locally.
  "The issue with COVID-19 is that some people can have this virus and not know that they're sick," she said at a county press conference March 18. "That's the concern that they could spread it to those at risk. So, it wouldn't surprise me one bit for there to be cases in all counties."
  As of March 26, according to Pullium, there were 15,000 test kits awaiting results in North Carolina, with at least a 10-day backlog.
  "If we wait until we get a confirmed case, we're done," Craig Goforth, who signed the order as chairman of the Madison County Board of Commissioners, said in a phone interview.
  County officials also requested all short-term rentals suspend operations. The stay at home order will remain in place until at least April 10.
  "We will review this as we move forward to see how facts on the ground change," Pulliam said.
  The full order offers details on what stay at home allows, defining the essential activities and businesses still permitted. Leaving the home to get medication, food and supplies necessary for health and safety are still allowed. Outdoor activity, like walking, hiking or biking, is also permitted so long as residents comply with social distancing guidelines requiring people stay six feet apart.
  The order also offers a detailed description of essential businesses. The list includes health care centers, grocery, feed and auto supply stores, gas stations and laundromats.
  Limited local government services will continue under the order. Collection centers and the landfill will remain open; call 649-2311 for updated hours. Though all Madison County libraries remain closed to the public, patrons can check out books online for curbside pickup during operating hours. Digital library services will also remain available.
  At the close of the video announcing the order, Pulliam stressed that residents to cooperate and comply with the stay at home declaration.
  "We would ask that everybody remain calm," Pullium said. "Be good neighbors and take care of yourselves and your family. If you can do something to take care of your neighbors, we'd appreciate that, too."
  A list of Madison County resources, including details of the county's COVID-19 hotline, 649-0755, can be found here.