After 28 counties move to critical community spread, residents express shock and concern

North Carolina health officials' update to the COVID-19 County Alert System on Tuesday put 48 counties in the red, meaning coronavirus spread is critical.

Twenty-eight counties moved from substantial viral spread, or orange, to critical, which is red. Johnston, Edgecombe, and Sampson counties were included in that shift.

Harnett County jumped all the way from from significant spread, or yellow, to critical.

The jump has many concerned and wondering what can be done to slow the spread of the virus.

"I was a little bit taken aback by the fact that Harnett County has moved into the red zone," said Susan Macklin, a first responder instructor in Harnett County.

The move is a stark reminder of how fast coronavirus spreads and with no telling who it will infect.

"I was in full head-to-toe [in protective gear]. I had the zip-up suit, the booties, face masks – N95. [I] even had a hair net, and I still got it," described Johnston County resident Chrissy Irons-Weager."

As community spread sweeps North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper is urging people to act in a safe manner.

"If you are in a red or orange county, you should limit going out to essential activities. You should avoid people that you don't live with," Cooper said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Cooper announced a new stay-at-home order that goes into effect on Friday, requiring most businesses to close at 10 p.m.

"I honestly would like to see something more than this. I think a lot of partial measures that extend for a long period of time are, in the end, kind of more devastating to our economy and to the mental health of the community," said Dr. Lisa Gralinksi, an epidemiologist with the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While more restrictions are being put in place to reduce the spread of the virus, some areas, like Orange County, have stayed in the yellow zone.

County leaders said they believe it's because people are following the "three W's" of wearing masks, waiting at least 6 feet from others and washing hands, as well as having access to free testing.

"Make testing easily available so, when somebody thinks that they have it, they can go get a free test and can find out in a few days whether or not they have it," said Orange County community relations director Todd McGee.

Those living in the red zones want to know why there’s been such an increase when they’ve seen people doing the same.

"When I go anywhere in Johnston County, or Durham, Wake County or wherever I've gone, I sincerely see about 98% of the people adhering to masks," said Irons-Weager.

A spokesperson for the Harnett County Public Health Department said they are asking the community to be vigilant by following the three W's, limiting mixing households, social activities and the number of people you hang out with.