Boone Rescinds Isolation Requirement For Out-Of-Town Visitors

Council members in Boone have removed a controversial part of the town's state of emergency order for the COVID-19 outbreak after a judge blocked it last week.

The decision came during a meeting Tuesday to address the fallout from the judge's ruling. The town council rescinded a provision of its emergency order that required anyone who had overnighted outside of Watauga County to isolate themselves for two weeks before going to indoor places in Boone.

The move sparked a backlash in the town's business community. A superior court judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the requirement as it was about to go into effect.

A hearing on the order is scheduled for June 1, but it's unclear if it will take place now that it's been rescinded. 

It was one of a series of measures the town looked at as Boone prepared for Gov. Cooper's phase two of the state's reopening plan. The self-isolation requirement would have expired in mid-June, therefore it would not have impacted returning Appalachian State students.

The council also defeated a proposal that would have required anyone who entered a business or public building to wear a mask.

The outbreak hasn't hit the mountain counties as hard as urban areas. The state reports 14 cases in Watauga and no deaths as of Wednesday.

Correction: A previous version of this story gave an incorrect date of the meeting.

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