Gov. Roy Cooper announced significant rollbacks of restrictions for businesses and other locations on Wednesday as the number of hospitalizations, deaths and positive cases of COVID19 continues to decline and stabilize statewide.
“After alarmingly high numbers during the winter holidays, trends in North Carolina have slowed and stabilized,” Cooper said. “Hospital admissions have fallen to their lowest point since before Thanksgiving. The rate of positive tests continues to decline. This is encouraging.”
In particular, Cooper has officially lifted his modified Stay-At-Home by closing non-essential businesses such as gyms, restaurants and shops at 10 p.m. That order, signed in the aftermath of Thanksgiving and Christmas, also struck a 9 p.m. curfew on alcohol sales.
While non-essential businesses can stay open late, alcohol sales are still subject to curfew, this time two hours later at 11 p.m.
The changes will take effect Friday and are expected to expire later in March.
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The dramatic changes also extend to bars and establishments where food sales represent less than 30% of sales. For the first time since March 2020, bars with a capacity of 30% with a maximum of 250 people are allowed to open.
Gyms, museums, aquariums, hairdressers, swimming pools, outdoor theme parks, shops, restaurants, breweries and wineries will be able to open at 50% capacity with health and safety protocols.
READ MORE: Cooper’s full implementing order (.pdf)
Some companies that were limited to outdoor activities with a capacity of 30% still have that percentage, but no longer have a limit of 100 people. That includes sports fields and venues, stadiums, outdoor bars, outdoor amusement parks and other outdoor businesses.
Due to the new order, some indoor companies can also open with a capacity of 30% with a maximum of 250 people. These businesses include bars and taverns, indoor amusement parks, movie theaters, indoor sports arenas, and more.
30% capacity limit (must not exceed 250 people in indoor areas)
- Bars
- Meeting, reception and conference rooms
- Lounges (including tobacco) and night clubs
- Indoor areas of amusement parks
- Movie theaters
- Entertainment facilities (eg Bingo salons, gaming establishments)
- Sports arenas and fields
- Locations
Indoor event venues with more than 5,000 seats can be exempted from the 250 person limit if they follow additional security measures up to a 15% capacity.
50% capacity limit
- Restaurants
- Breweries, wineries, distilleries
- Fitness and physical activity facilities (e.g. Gyms, bowling alleys, rock climbing facilities)
- Swimming pools
- Museums and aquariums
- Retailers
- Outdoor areas of amusement parks
- Salons, personal care, tattoo parlors
“This is a huge, hard-won victory,” said NCBATA president Zack Medford. “Reducing these restrictions would never have been possible without the tireless efforts of NCBATA members and allies over the past 343 days. We look forward to building on this success with the Governors Office and helping our bar and taverns get back to normal. to get their feet going after such a devastating year. “
“Relaxing these restrictions will only work if we continue to protect ourselves and others from this deadly virus,” Cooper said. “By order and common sense, health and safety protocols must be enforced.”
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Dr. Mandy Cohen, NC Secretary of Health and Human Services, praised the North Carolinians’ efforts to slow the spread and keep pace with “The 3 Ws,” which she said had the governor’s authority to overcome the restrictions. relax.
However, Cohen still warned that trends, while positive, “are still not where we need to be” in terms of viral spread.
Wednesday’s press conference took place the same day the state opened vaccinations to teachers and other school personnel. In Wake County, 10,000 school employees have already signed up for the waiting list.
Other essential employees in group 3 can sign up for appointments from next month.
NC House Chairman Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said after Wednesday’s House session that he was “encouraged that the intention and action of the General Assembly has led the governor in this direction” and said he was “happy” that Cooper took this step.
“I spoke with the governor and shared our thoughts with him that we really need to reopen the state,” said Moore. “The trends are going in the right direction, a lot of the restrictions are going too far, and we have companies that are really hurting.”
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