Gov. Cooper at Jan. 27 press conference

Jan. 27. Gov. Roy Cooper has once again extended the modified “Stay at Home” order that was set to expire tomorrow. The new executive order comes as the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services reports that coronavirus numbers are leveling off. Nevertheless, the order requires people to stay at home between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am.

This is the fourth time North Carolina’s Phase 3 coronavirus restrictions have been extended since they began Oct. 2. The latest restrictions were set to expire at 5 pm Friday.

They won’t expire until Feb. 28.

The governor also extended an order allowing bars and restaurants to sell cocktails to go. The Dec. 21 order has been extended until March 31.

The NCDHHS announced 5,587 new cases of the coronavirus statewide. The median number of new cases over the past month is 6,811, based on data from Johns Hopkins. Hospitalizations statewide are at 3,305, down from nearly 4,000 two weeks ago.