[3] On February 11, Governor Roy Cooper announced the creation of a Novel Coronavirus Task Force for North Carolina and a state health department hotline.

On March 4, Governor Roy Cooper identified the first case of COVID-19 as a person who had traveled to Washington state and was exposed at a long-term care facility.

[6] On March 7, North Carolina had five new positive cases reported in Wake County — all five had traveled to Boston in late February to attend a conference by the pharmaceutical company Biogen.

[8][9] Erik A. Hooks, Secretary of Public Safety, was charged with seeking federal aid and implementing the order, which protected consumers from price gouging, suspended some transportation regulations and healthcare licensing restrictions, and authorized temporary hiring and expansion of testing capacity, among other provisions.

[13] On March 14, Cooper issued an executive order that prohibited gatherings of 100 or more people, closed public schools for two weeks, and encouraged the practice of social distancing.

[14][15] On March 15, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County jointly declared a state of emergency, restricting non-essential travel and gatherings.

[16] On March 16, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) began serving "drive-thru" breakfast and lunch every weekday and delivering meals to population centers throughout the district.

On March 22, Mecklenburg County announced a partnership with local charities to cover one week cost of people staying in hotels and motels to keep the tenants from being evicted.

"[34] On March 30, Governor Cooper's statewide stay-at-home order went into effect at 5 p.m.[35] On April 9, Governor Cooper issued a new executive order that restricted the number of customers inside grocery and retail stores, increased hygiene requirements of food service, and implemented stricter guidelines for long-term care facilities.

If current trends continue, the stay-at-home order would be rescinded altogether as early as May 22, allowing the state to begin "Phase 2" of reopening.

[42] On May 20, NCDHHS announced that its COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard had been enhanced to include death counts by county or zip code, cases by date reported, and daily numbers.

On June 2, Cooper informed Republican National Committee (RNC) officials that face coverings and social distancing would be required at the 2020 Republican National Convention planned for August 24–27 in Charlotte, prompting Trump and the RNC to announce their plans to move the convention out of North Carolina.

In light of increasing case numbers and hospitalizations as well as high positive test rates, he also announced that the state would "pause" reopening.

[61] On August 28, 267 inmates and 51 staff members at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women had tested positive, and one woman had died.

[72] On October 21, President Trump held a campaign rally at Gastonia Municipal Airport, with attendance estimated at 15,000- 23,000 people.

[77] On October 24, the United House of Prayer for All People buildings in Mecklenburg County, including those located in the major North Carolina city Charlotte, was ordered closed.

[78] The Mecklenburg County Health director said the church had not cooperated with efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, and that many attendees had traveled from out of state.

The Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services "recommends anyone who attended the president's Oct. 21 rally to assess their own risk, monitor for symptoms and get tested if necessary.

An outbreak at a nearby nursing home, Madison Saints Paradise South Senior Living, has been traced back to the church.

[93] On March 13, Duke University ordered a temporary 'stay-in-place' restrictions on campus, due to increase of COVID-19 cases related to fraternity rush events.

[97] On March 26, Governor Cooper announced that all adults in North Carolina are eligible to be to sign up for vaccine appointments starting on April 7.

[104] On September 28, North Carolina hospital system Novant Health fire 175 employees, around 1% of their total workforce, for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

On that date, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the season would be suspended for 30 days, affecting the Charlotte Hornets.

[108] In the National Hockey League (NHL), the season was suspended for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Carolina Hurricanes.

[109] On March 14, the Hickory Motor Speedway was forced to cancel all racing events, due to an executive order issued that banned gatherings of 100 or more.

[114] COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported in multiple long-term care facilities and nursing homes across North Carolina,[36] prompting Governor Cooper and the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCDHHS) to issue further restrictions in these settings, such as stopping group meals and conducting routine temperature checks for employees and residents.

The highest coronavirus counts have occurred at two facilities in Orange County: Pruitt-Health Carolina Point, and Signature Health, where 110 people (staff and residents) have tested positive for COVID-19.

"[121] On March 30, the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reported that a formal probe would be launched into the stock sales made by several legislators, including Burr, during the early days of the coronavirus epidemic.

[127] A second "ReOpen NC" protest of about 300 people was held on April 21—a day on which the state's coronavirus death toll increased by 34 to a total of 213.

Todd Stiefel, a Raleigh philanthropist who is immuno-compromised, paid for a small plane to fly a sign that read "Fewer graves if we reopen in waves" in a counter-protest.