August 30, 2021
The Town Hall and The Historic Banner Elk School are open to the public. Town Meetings continue to be held in a combination of in-person and remote connection. This is to limit the number on indiviuals in the Council Chambers at any given time.
The Town of Banner Elk will continue to follow State and Federal guidance on issues related to COVID-19.
PLEASE USE THE LINKS BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Avery County
May 14, 2021
Governor Cooper announced major changes to the current mask requirements and mass gathering restrictions related to COVID.
Here are the key points:
- This Order takes effect on May 14, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.
- Face covering requirements are lifted in most settings.
- Capacity restrictions are lifted in all settings.
- Social distancing requirements have been lifted in all settings. (For example, there is no longer a requirement that tables in restaurants be spaced out.)
Face covering Requirements Subject to NCDHHS Guidance
The following establishments, businesses, and institutions are required to follow NCDHHS Guidance with respect to indoor face covering requirements and all other COVID-19 related restrictions and recommendations:
• Schools
• Childcare facilities
• Children’s day or overnight camps
• Certain health care settings like long term care centers
• Public or private transportation regulated by the State of North Carolina and North Carolina airports, bus and train stations or stops
• Prisons and establishments that are providing shelter to people experiencing homelessness
• Establishments that are providing shelter to people experiencing homelessness
The Department of Health and Human Services will also continue to expand strategies to reach people who have not yet gotten vaccinated.
Information on the state’s vaccine distribution is available at YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). People can find nearby vaccine providers using NCDHHS’ online tool, Find a Vaccine Location. The state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline number is 888-675-4567.
Read the Executive Order.
Read a FAQ about today’s Order.
May 1, 2021
- Under the new Executive Order, masks will still be required indoors but are no longer mandated outdoors. Masks are still strongly recommended outdoors by NC DHHS in crowded areas and higher risk settings where social distancing is difficult.
- Executive Order No. 209 will also increase mass gathering capacity limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 50 to 100 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 100 to 200.
- Occupancy limits currently in place will remain the same.
March 23, 2021
Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina will relax some COVID-19 restrictions.
Executive Order No. 204 will take effect March 26 at 5 pm is set to expire April 30 at 5 pm. The state’s general mask mandate remains in effect.
Executive Order No. 204 has three general categories of occupancy restrictions: up to 100 percent capacity, 75 percent capacity, and 50 percent capacity. All businesses must continue to maintain the 6 feet of distance requirement between patrons and implement other safety protocols as they expand their capacity.
Executive Order No. 204 will also increase mass gathering limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 25 to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 50 to 100. This Order also fully lifts the restriction on the late-night sale and service of alcoholic beverages on bars, restaurants, and other establishments.
February 24, 2021
Governor Cooper Announces Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions as North Carolina
Trends Stabilize
Today’s Executive Order lifts the Modified Stay at Home Order requiring people to stay at home and businesses to close to the public between 10 pm and 5 am. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 10 to 25, while 50 remains the limit for outdoors. The curfew on the sale of alcohol for onsite consumption will be moved from 9 pm to 11 pm. Some businesses, including bars and amusement parks, will now be open for patrons indoors as they adhere to new occupancy restrictions. Many businesses, venues and arenas will have increased occupancy both indoors and outdoors.
Read Executive Order No. 195.
Read Frequently Asked Questions.
View the slides from the briefing.
Press Release - Avery County - 1/26/2021
Avery County and the Avery County Health Department are disappointed to announce First Dose COVID-19 vaccines will not be available for anyone at the Agriculture Extension Center this week January 26th– Thursday, January 28th. We will reopen the vaccine call center and update the county website as soon as more first dose vaccine becomes available. Second Dose vaccines are still scheduled for the second and third weeks of February. Please plan to attend those clinic days for your second dose as noted on your paperwork. Please know Avery county is dedicated to getting vaccines to all who would like them. Thanks for your patience.
January 27, 2021
Governor Cooper announced that he will be extending the Modified Stay at Home Order through February 28th, 2021 with Executive Order 189.
Governor Cooper is also extending the sale of “to-go” or delivery of mixed beverages through March 31st, 2021 with Executive Order 190.
The extension of Executive Order No. 191 will help families have the ability to stay in their homes, a critical component of slowing the spread of the virus.
Read Executive Order No. 189 and the FAQs.
Read Executive Order No. 190 and the FAQs.
Read Executive Order No. 191 and the FAQs.
Press Release - Avery County - 1/15/2021
Avery County and the Avery County Health Department are proud to announce COVID-19 vaccines will be available for anyone 65 years or older at the Agriculture Extension Center (661 Vale Road above Ingles in Newland), beginning Wednesday January 20th – Friday, January 22nd and again Tuesday, January 26th– Thursday, January 28th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. No appointments are necessary. Please bring your insurance card and wear appropriate clothing for easy access to have the vaccination in your upper arm. Masks are required. If you have a bleeding disorder or are on blood thinners, please contact your physician for written documentation to receive the vaccine. For questions concerning the vaccine, please call 828-733-8273.
January 6, 2021 –
Governor Cooper extended North Carolina’s Modified Stay At Home Order that requires people to be at home from 10pm – 5 am to last through at least Friday, January 29. Secretary Cohen also issued a Secretarial Directive with stark warnings for North Carolinians to avoid indoor spaces without masks and gatherings between households. Read here for more details on the Secretarial Directive.
Effective December 11th at 5:00 PM -
North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between 10 pm and 5 am and takes effect Friday, December 11 and will be in place until at least January 8, 2021.
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10 pm. 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.
Read Executive Order 181.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
Effective November 25th at 5:00 PM -
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.
In addition to extending Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements, the Order tightens the existing statewide mask requirement – making it clear that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The Order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when travelling with people outside of the household.
The Order also requires large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet to have an employee stationed near entrances ensuring mask wearing and implementing occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
Here are the links to Executive Order 180 and the FAQs:
Read Executive Order 180.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
November 10, 2020 - Executive Order No. 176 and Indoor Gathering Limit Lowered to 10
On November 10th Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 176 which is a further extension of the Phase 3 Order and implementation of additional measures necessary to protect public health.
Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina’s indoor mass gathering limit will be lowered to 10 people in an effort to drive down North Carolina’s key COVID-19 metrics. Executive Order 176 will go into effect on Friday, November 13 and will be in place through Friday, December 4.
Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 for three more weeks as health officials continue to monitor North Carolina's viral trends. North Carolina has seen increased hospitalizations and trajectory of cases in recent weeks. Governor Cooper underscored the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, and using good judgment despite fatigue or frustration with the pandemic.
North Carolina Pauses in Safer At Home Phase 2, Adds Statewide Requirement for Face Coverings
Governor Cooper Press Release 6/24/2020
Requirements for the Use of Face Coverings and Masks
Notification of policy changes for water and sewer customers (4/3/2020)
The Town of Banner Elk will not be disconnecting any customers for nonpayment for at least 60 days. Further the Town will not charge fees for late payments or collect late fees that were imposed as of March 31, 2020. Late fees will be waived for at least 60 days. For those unable to make utility payments the Town will be developing payment plans as the need arises. This does not in any way relieve our customers from the obligation to pay their bill and we encourage customers who are able to make payments to continue to do so.
Closings
The Town Hall and The Historic Banner Elk School will be closed to the public until further notice. Town Hall staff will continue to work and are available by phone and email during regular office hours. 828-898-5398
The park restrooms and playground equipment have also been closed at this time. The park and greenway do remain open.
Avery County Removes Limited Short Term Rental Requirement – 5/22/2020
Updated State of Emergency and Press Release
Governor Cooper announces easing restrictions on travel, business operations and mass gatherings: Phase 2 - Effective Friday, May 22 at 5 pm
Press Release, Frequently Asked Questions
Avery County Removes 14 Day Quarantine and Allows for Limited Short Term Rentals – 5/6/2020
Governor Cooper Announces Modified Stay At Home Order and Transition to Phase 1 of Easing Restrictions - Effective Friday, May 8 at 5 pm
Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 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 pm. Certain businesses remain closed as the state continues battling COVID-19.
Press Release, Frequently Asked Questions and Graphs & Slides
Governor Extends Stay At Home Order Through May 8, Plans Three Phase Lifting of Restrictions Based on Virus Trends
Governor Roy Cooper today issued Executive Order No 135 extending North Carolina's Stay At Home order through May 8. The orders extending closure of restaurants for dine-in service and bars and closure of other close-contact businesses are also extended through May 8.
Read Executive Order No 135
Press Release
Governor Cooper shared details about North Carolina's plan to lift restrictions in three phases once the data show that key metrics are headed in the right direction.
Notification of policy changes for water and sewer customers (4/3/2020)
The Town of Banner Elk will not be disconnecting any customers for nonpayment for at least 60 days. Further the Town will not charge fees for late payments or collect late fees that were imposed as of March 31, 2020. Late fees will be waived for at least 60 days. For those unable to make utility payments the Town will be developing payment plans as the need arises. This does not in any way relieve our customers from the obligation to pay their bill and we encourage customers who are able to make payments to continue to do so.
Updated Local State of Emergency-Avery County Government (4/1/2020)
This update includes extended short term rental restrictions and a self-quarantine requirement for persons arriving in Avery County for overnight stays. Please link below for complete details.
North Carolina Stay At Home Order (3/30/2020)
Effective, March 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM - Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 121, ordering North Carolinians to remain in their homes except for performing essential work and essential activities such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions for North Carolina’s Stay At Home Order
Local State of Emergency-Avery County Government Suspension of All Short-Term Rentals Effective Immediately (3/25/2020)
Effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., Avery County government, the Health Department, Emergency Management, and Sheriff’s Office are requiring that lodging facilities, for example, air bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, timeshare units, condos, motels, hotels, and other rental programs or places where leases or rentals are for less than one month in duration, be suspended in Avery County until April 29, 2020. This action is consistent with actions taken by other communities across the state and nation to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus due to human travel.
Closings
The Town Hall and The Historic Banner Elk School will be closed to the public until further notice. Town Hall staff will continue to work and are available by phone and email during regular office hours. 828-898-5398
The park restrooms and playground equipment have also been closed at this time. The park and greenway do remain open.
We apologize for any inconveniences this creates during this trying time. Please know that the Town continues to monitor developments and take appropriate actions to provide service continuity.
State of Emergency (3/20/2020)
On Friday March 20, 2020 Avery County declared a local State of Emergency. The link below goes to a Declaration signed by the Mayor of Banner Elk to consent to the Avery County State of Emergency applying to Banner Elk. This does not preclude the Town from exercising its own statutorily allowed authority if needed.
The Town of Banner Elk will continue to follow State and Federal guidance on issues related to COVID-19.
PLEASE USE THE LINKS BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Meeting Updates
Due to the health concerns associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and efforts to limit the possible transmission, the Town of Banner Elk has made the decision to cancel all Town Advisory Board (Planning Board and Board of Adjustment) meetings until further notice. Town staff is available by phone for questions related to these Board meetings.