NC To Ease Coronavirus Restrictions, Allow Larger Gatherings

NORTH CAROLINA — Following months of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, North Carolina residents will soon be able to enjoy indoor service at bars and attend indoor sporting events in limited numbers, as well as gather in larger numbers indoors and outdoors, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday.

"After alarmingly high numbers throughout the winter holidays, North Carolina’s trends have declined and stabilized," Cooper said at a news conference Wednesday. "Hospitalizations have dropped to their lowest point since before Thanksgiving. The percent of tests returning positive continues to decline. This is encouraging."

A new executive order is set to ease, but not fully eliminate, many COVID-19 restrictions throughout the state Friday, said Cooper, who likened the move to a "dimmer switch."

"The only restriction we will lift is the Modified Stay at Home order," Cooper said. "That means no more curfew starting Friday, and more opportunities to gather, shop and attend events if done safely."

Cases have decreased in North Carolina since the peak in January and are at levels mirroring October 2020, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said Wednesday. The percent of positive tests in the state has decreased to under 7 percent, and hospitalizations are down to levels reported before the holidays, in November 2020, she said.

"With the new variants in the state, we need to keep our guard up," Cohen said. "The new COVID-19 variants are a wild card."

State public health officials reported a statewide positivity rate of 6 percent Wednesday and more than 3,300 new cases, increasing North Carolina's tally to 850,000 cases. As of Wednesday, at least 11,074 state residents had died from COVID-19, according to DHSS.

"We have reason to hope in North Carolina," with fewer are getting sick or needing a hospital, Cooper said.

Here's what the new executive order, which goes into effect Friday, calls for, according to Cooper:

• Lifts the Modified Stay at Home order and eliminates 10 p.m. curfew.
• Mandatory mask mandate remains in place.
• Gyms, restaurants, aquariums, barbers and salons, outdoor amusement parks, pools, stores and breweries may open at 50 percent capacity with health and safety protocols in place.
• Alcohol sales must end at 11 p.m.
• Sports fields, stadiums and outdoor bars will continue to be limited to 30 percent capacity, but 100-person cap is eliminated.
• Bars, taverns, indoor amusement parks, movie theaters and indoors sports arenas will be allowed to have 30 percent capacity, with a cap of 250 people.
• At larger indoor areas, such as college and professional sports arenas with a capacity of more than 5,000, capacity limits will be set at 15 percent, with protocols in place.
• Mass gathering limits will be increased to 25 indoors and 50 outdoors.

"It’s also important to note that bars and taverns will be allowed to open indoors for the first time since near the beginning of the pandemic," Cooper said. "Capacity indoors is 30 percent, and officials will enforce this limit."

Earlier this week, the health department announced that the spread of coronavirus dropped from peak critical levels in a third of North Carolina counties.

According to a health department County Alert report released Monday, 27 counties continued to have high spread of COVID-19, 40 counties had substantial community spread and 33 counties had significant community spread.

Overall, the report reflects the lowest number of counties with critical levels of community spread since the state launched the County Alert System, the health department said.

"Although North Carolina's key metrics remain high, they are moving in a positive direction with decreasing trends in numbers of COVID-19 cases reported each day, people being hospitalized with COVID-19, people in the intensive care unit, and the percent of tests that are positive," the department said. "Continued adherence to the three W's — wearing a face mask, waiting 6 feet apart, and washing hands often — along with the start of vaccinations are slowing the spread of the virus."

SEE ALSO:

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• COVID-19 Spread Drops Across State, In Mecklenburg County
• NC Schools Should Return To In-Person Learning: Gov. Cooper
• Teachers To Be Prioritized In NC's Vaccine Eligibility Expansion
• NC Ups Efforts To Reach Marginalized Communities In Vaccine Push