ReOpen NC official reports testing positive for coronavirus

A leading member of ReOpen NC, which advocates for lifting North Carolina restrictions intended to help contain the coronavirus, posted Sunday in the organization’s Facebook group that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

Audrey Whitlock, one of the administrators of ReOpen NC’s Facebook group, said her 14-day quarantine ended Sunday, calling herself “an asymptomatic COVID19 positive patient,” according to posts published by Raleigh station CBS 17.

“As an asymptomatic COVID19 positive patient (quarantine ends 4/26) another concern I have is the treatment of COVID patients as it relates to other communicable diseases,” Whitlock said in the post. “I have been forced to quarantine in my home for 2 weeks.”

She added that Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) stay-at-home order violates her First Amendment, Fifth Amendment and 14th Amendment rights.

“I have been told not to participate in public or private accommodations as requested by the government, and therefore denied by 1st amendment right of freedom of religion,” she wrote. 

The ReOpen NC leader requested a refund of all taxes she has paid during the shutdown because she says lawmakers are not abiding by the Constitution.

ReOpen NC has held two protests in Raleigh against Cooper’s stay-at-home order and plans to hold demonstrations every Tuesday the order is still in effect. Whitlock posted that she would be at Tuesday’s protest. 

The North Carolina governor originally announced a stay-at-home order starting March 27. Last week, he extended the order until May 8.

The state has confirmed 9,142 cases of the coronavirus, leading to 306 deaths, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.