COVID-19: Coronavirus

Residents and visitors to Buncombe County who see a business that is either unlawfully open or is in violation of Executive Order 181 should report the business to the Ready Team. Call the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095 or email ready@buncombecounty.org.

Law enforcement's goal is to achieve compliance by educating business owners and their customers about the importance of wearing a face covering. However, if businesses continue to violate the order, further action may be taken.

Customers in violation of Executive Order Number 181 will also be asked by law enforcement to put on a face covering while in public. If customer refuses to do so, they will get a citation and may face a class 2 misdemeanor charge.

Click here for information on Buncombe County Parks.

Click here for information on Asheville City Parks.

We encourage all residents to enjoy time outside. As long as all residents are practicing social distancing, maintaining proper sanitation, and staying home if you are sick. To learn more about these guideline, please visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov.

All lodging in Buncombe County is open with no restrictions. We do ask that all visitors to our county respect the mandate to wear a face covering in public. Additionally, we ask that all visitors wait 6 feet apart from others and wash their hands regularly. These are the steps all of us must take to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our community.

All restaurants still offering takeout service in Buncombe County are mandated to follow proper food preparation standards. These guidelines include:

• Continually disinfect frequently-touched surfaces using guidelines provided by the CDC.
• Delegate all staff to have separate responsibilities in order to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure every facility is maintaining proper social distancing practices.
• Employees will package all meal items, (including drink) for customers to reduce the number of people touching items in the facility.
• All staff should be wearing disposable gloves that are changed when employee changes task, gloves are ripped, or gloves become visibly soiled. Hand washing will occur when gloves are changed.

No. COVID-19 is still here and cases continue to increase. We are encouraging all residents to stay in their homes as much as possible, especially when sick, to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our community.

Yes. According to Executive Order 181, all North Carolinians and visitors to North Carolina are mandated to wear a face-covering while in public spaces. Wearing a face covering is also required outside when it is not possible to consistently maintain a physical distance of 6 feet between non-household members. Exceptions to this rule include people with medical conditions that prevent covering the mouth and nose, children under 5 years of age, and people who are walking or exercising outside. Wearing a face covering is a simple, yet powerful way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keeps our residents and visitors safe.

Click here to learn more about face coverings.

Click here for FAQ’s about face coverings.

Yes. All states are open to travelers but some states and counties may still have special requirement for visitors. Be sure to call the health department for the county in which you are visiting to make sure you understand their restrictions. You could also visit their website. If there is no special guidance, it is still important to wear a face covering, wash your hands, and practice physical distancing when out in public. If there is special guidance, make sure you fully understand it and plan ahead.

Click here for general traveling tips and considerations during COVID-19.

No. There is no national quarantine order at this time so inter-county and inter-state travel is allowed. Visitors to North Carolina and Buncombe County are required to wear a face covering in indoor and outdoor public spaces. We also ask that you follow all public health guidance by maintaining physical distancing, washing your hands regularly, and staying home if you are sick.

Call ahead to make sure the business you would like to visit is open to the public. While many businesses have decided to open up, many are still closed. Be sure to call ahead to confirm that they are open before making the trip.

Click here to contact the Buncombe County Convention and Visitors Bureau.