Guilford County is announcing additional modifications to the current amended Countywide (SAH) order which will go into effect Friday, April 10 at 5p.m. and impact all Guilford County residents. These modifications address the specific areas of “Drive-In” Religious Services and Automobile Dealers providing clarification for some areas of specified retail business and service provisions related to automotive industry and relaxes some restrictions surrounding religious gatherings.

Guilford County Officials along with elected leaders from Greensboro and High Point recently had discussions to determine how Executive Order (EO) 131 issued by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper Thursday, April, 9 in addition to the current statewide Stay-At-Home (SAH) order compared with ongoing updates being considered to the Amended Countywide Stay-At-Home (SAH) Order. This order was issued by the county and went into effect Monday, March 30 at 7p.m.

These discussions led to the decision to modify the current amended (SAH) order, easing some restrictions to be more in line with the Governor’s statewide order. Notable modifications to the amended Countywide (SAH) order address “Drive-In” Religious Services increases the number of persons allowed to congregate while stipulating requirements to stay inside their vehicles.

Additional requirements of this modification include:

“Drive-In” Religious Services

• Drive-in services permitted only once per week.
•  All members not actively engaged in presenting the service must remain in their vehicles.
• There must be at least six (6) feet of separation between the sides of vehicles, i.e., cars must have a parking space of separation. Designate six-foot distances with signage, tape, or by other means. Leaving an empty, marked parking space at least six (6) foot wide between each vehicle is compliant.
• There must be at least six (6) feet of separation between presenters and between presenters and vehicle occupants.
• Only family members within each vehicle.
• No buses or vans except for minivans.
• Vehicle occupancy is limited to the number of seating spaces equipped with seatbelts.
• No seating in truck beds or on vehicle exteriors is permitted.
• No more than fifty (50) vehicles.

View Drive-In Religious Services Guidelines.

Automobile Dealers

• All dealership operations shall be fully compliant with all the requirements set out in Executive Order 131.
• Motor vehicle sales conducted by appointment.
• Posting online whether a facility is open and how best to reach the facility and continue services by phone or remotely.
• Designate six-foot distances with signage, tape, or by other means, six-foot spacing for employees and customers to maintain appropriate distance and maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals.
• No more than ten (10) people, including customers and employees, in the showroom at any one time.
• All customer lounges closed.
• Tables available outside the showroom for customers who wish to conduct transaction outside of showroom.
• Hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available for employees and customers.
• No test drives permitted unless expressly requested by the purchaser and only conducted in adherence to the following requirements:
  • Vehicle are completely sanitized with COVID-19 approved products after every test drive with a card stating time it was driven and when it was sanitized.
  • No sales representative riding in vehicle with a customer.
  • Customer to wear gloves that are provided by dealership while test driving vehicle.
  • Disposable seat mats to be used for the test drive.
  • Vehicles test driven will not be driven by another potential customer for 72 hours.
• To the extent legally possible, conduct off-site / home delivery of vehicles.
• Adhere to any CDC recommendations in addition to Executive Order 131 for maintaining a safe workplace, including the measures referenced above as well as:
• Identify customers and employees who have viral symptoms and prohibit them from entering the dealership.
• Require what the CDC calls “respiratory etiquette,” including covering coughs and sneezes
• Provide customers and employees with tissues and trash receptacles.
• Prohibit employees from using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, work tools and equipment.
• Prohibit hand shaking and other physical contact between individuals.
• Post handwashing signs around the dealership.

View Auto Dealer Guidelines.

Chairman of the Board Jeff Phillips stated, “It is our hope that all of our residents will continue to take the Amended Stay-At-Home order very seriously, and will voluntarily comply. The County and our city partners are continuing to assess the spread of the disease in our community. We understand the importance of this time of year within our religious community and the need for individuals to be able to exercise their religious beliefs with like-minded believers while being cognizant of public health concerns.” He added, “We have heard and are listening to our business community. We understand that these are trying times economically and we are all working together to weather these difficult times.

Phillips stated, “As we continue to face the challenging phases of these rapidly changing situation, we need every member of our community to follow the CDC recommendations, to cover their sneeze and cough, to stay home when sick, to wash their hands frequently and adhere to social distancing recommendations.”

Residents are urged to review the website for the most recent modifications of the countywide (SAH) order and to review the full plans of action for “Drive-In” Religious Services and Automobile Dealers.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which will also include future positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.

For questions, please email the Guilford County about the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order at stayhome@guilfordcountync.gov.

Click here to view updated Stay At Home Order.