WRAL poll: 52% support NC reopening 'around June 1' or later
A majority of North Carolinians are willing to wait at least another month for businesses to reopen, according to a WRAL News Poll released Monday.
Fifty-two percent of the 700 adults from North Carolina surveyed say businesses should reopen ‘Around June 1’ (27%), ‘Later In The Summer’ (17%), ‘Later In The Fall’ (6%) or ‘After That' (2%).
Thirteen percent responded that businesses should open ‘Now', 24% responded ‘Around May 15’ and 11% said ‘Not Sure,’ in the poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of WRAL News.
When asked whether putting Americans back to work was more important than flattening the curve, the majority (61%) chose flattening the curve.
Four state legislators who participated in a webinar on Monday hosted by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce were split much like their constituents about when to reopen the state.
“We are going to really cause a lot of harm to North Carolinians [and] the business community by waiting as long as we are waiting to move into Phase 2,” said Sen. Paul Newton, in reference to Gov. Roy Cooper’s three-phase plan.
The governor outlined a gradual reopening plan on Thursday, announcing Phase 1 could start as soon as May 9 and Phase 2 would be implemented two to three weeks later.
Newton, a Republican who represents Cabarrus and Union counties, wants the stay-at-home order lifted so more people can return to work. He said hospitals are not overwhelmed and social distancing efforts are proving to be successful. Newtown said he remains in favor of keeping protections in place for vulnerable people, including those living in nursing homes.
“We do have data, not only from North Carolina but around the world, that tells us a different story,” Newton said. “That the same reasons we shut down don’t still exist with respect to whether we should start up.”
Democratic Rep. Michael Wray, who represents Halifax and Northampton counties, said he supports the governor’s plan starting with a May 9 reopening. He points out that total coronavirus cases are still rising.
“You go to a grocery store now, you go to Walmart and Lowe’s and some people think it’s no big deal, but it’s going to be a big deal when your family gets it,” Wray said. “We’ve got to support our businesses, but we also have to support our healthcare.”
Sen. Chuck Edwards and Rep. Pat McElraft both raised concerns about COVID-19’s impact to tourism just weeks before Memorial Day.
“Small businesses are really crippled," said Edwards. “There are clearly some businesses that are not going to make not through this. I believe we are going to see a lot of folks in the workforce have to go look for other jobs and develop other skills.”
McElraft says the population of Emerald Isle, located in her district in Carteret County, soars from 3,200 to more than 50,000 during the summer tourist season.
She says the town is one example of many others, from the mountains to the coast, with small businesses that rely on tourists.
“We’ve been affected by Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Dorian and now Hurricane COVID-19,” McElraft said.
McElraft said she hopes Gov. Cooper considers giving counties the authority to reopen when they see fit.
“I’d really like to see the governor give consideration to opening up those that have very few positive [cases],” she said.
"We are strong. We will come back from this, but they’re are a lot of hurting people here.”
The WRAL News Poll also asked respondents when schools should reopen. More people chose August than any other answer. Respondents to the poll were given options for now, around May 15, around June 1, in August, after August and not sure. Forty-five percent agreed with August, with ‘not sure' as the second most common choice, at 15%.
