HAYESVILLE, NC – As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, Clay County has ordered the closure of lodging facilities to curb the travel of non-residents.

“In summary, Clay County has issued guidance ordering the temporary closure of businesses related to non-essential travel of non-resident individuals in Clay County to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Clay County Commission Chairman Rob Peck said. “Effective Monday, March 30th, 2020 at 5:00 PM., all lodging facilities, for example, hotels, motels, resorts, inns, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, RV Parks, vacation cabins, home rentals and any and all rentals or leases by Air-BNB, Homeaway, VRBO, and other rental programs or places where leases or use of any are for less than one month in duration, shall be closed in Clay County, to include the Town of Hayesville, EXCEPT for the following exemptions: work-related, homeless shelter and emergency facilities possibly resulting from COVID-19. Persons already in place at such Lodging Facilities prior to the execution of this supplemental declaration may remain in place. This declaration shall take effect on Monday, March 30, 2020, at 5:00 PM and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded.”

At the time of this publication, there are no current confirmed cases of COVID-19 within Clay County.

“As noted in previous posts, additional testing will lead to an increase in new cases throughout the state and possibly within our own county and region. An increase in cases should not lead to an increase in hysteria. The Clay County Board of Commissioners is committed to the health and safety of our citizens and visitors alike and will continue to take reasonable, rational and measured responses as deemed appropriate to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our county,” Peck concluded.