East Lake Norman News

A North Carolina state senator said businesses not identified as essential during the governor's COVID-19 stay-at-home order can challenge that initial ruling through a process online. 

Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) posted to her Facebook page on March 30 about the option to seek an essential status. 

"Businesses excluded from the list of COVID-19 Essential Businesses and Operations set forth in Executive Order 121 who believe that they may be essential may direct requests to be included to the North Carolina Department of Revenue," Sawyer wrote. 

Gov. Roy Cooper issued the stay-at-home order on March 27, which closed non-essential businesses and implemented other restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As part of those restrictions, the governor ordered North Carolina residents to remain home unless conducting an essential activity such as grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions or going to the hospital.  

North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 3,400 cases in 90 counties as of April 8, along with 53 deaths. 

If a business isn't listed under the executive order as essential, which is available on the North Carolina Department of Revenue's website, the owner can request an essential-business status through an online form. 

"The Department may grant such request if it determines that it is in the best interest of the State to have the business continue operations in order to properly respond to this COVID-19 pandemic," Sawyer said on Facebook. "The Department shall post on its website a point of contact and procedure for businesses seeking to be designated as essential."

To start a request for a business to become essential, visit the department's website. 

"A business that has made a request to the Department to be included as a COVID-19 Essential Business or Operation may continue to operate until that request is acted upon," Sawyer said on Facebook.