Today, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS), representing physicians and PAs statewide, called on Governor Roy Cooper to enact an Executive Order to stop the public’s in-person access to non-essential businesses in order to limit community spread of the COVID-19 virus. The letter requests the more stringent restrictions be put in place for a two-week period in order for the Governor, in consultation with his team of public health and economic experts, to re-evaluate the effect of the order in that timeframe and make any necessary adjustments to benefit North Carolinians.
“We are acutely aware of the impact such an order will have on our state from an economic perspective and seriously weighed those considerations before making this request,” said NCMS President Palmer Edwards, MD, DFAPA. “As health care professionals, however, we felt it our duty to urge stronger protections for the public and our colleagues on the front lines in this pandemic.”
The letter notes the shortages of personal protective equipment many physicians and PAs currently are grappling with as they try to treat patients. It also applauds the Governor’s leadership thus far while calling on him to take decisive action now to help curb the spread of the virus.
“Since its founding in 1849, the NCMS has been dedicated to protecting the public health,” said NCMS CEO Robert W. Seligson, MBA, MA. “Today, our members are selflessly carrying forward those values and we look forward to continuing to work with our state’s leaders to help them serve the citizens of North Carolina during this latest public health crisis.”