Social Distancing Mandate, Gathering Limits Lifted In NC: Cooper

NORTH CAROLINA — All mandatory capacity and gathering limits, and all social distancing requirements in North Carolina were lifted "effective immediately," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday. Most mandatory mask requirements in the state were also lifted, except for specific settings.

"That means in most settings indoors or outdoors the state will no longer require you to wear a mask or be socially distant," Cooper said during a news conference.

The move comes as state public health officials continue to press for two-thirds of adults in the state to have at least one shot as quickly as possible. As of May 14, however, the number of adults with at least one dose of vaccine fell short of that goal, with about 51.2 percent of adults having received at least one shot, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

According to DHHS, nearly 46 percent of the state's adult population is fully vaccinated.

Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance, saying that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by state, federal or local law.

"It wasn't a complete surprise to see what they did, but we thought it was important to continue to follow their guidance," Cooper said.

The abrupt changes in statewide policy is meant to be added incentive for those who have not yet been vaccinated, who are still advised to wear masks and maintain social distance.

"The best protection is to get vaccinated," DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said.

Masks will continue to be required in the following settings:

• Public transportation
• Childcare settings
• Schools
• Summer camps
• Some medical and public health settings

Businesses, along with local and city governments may also continue to keep their mask mandates, Cooper said.

"This is not the end of this pandemic. In fact, we've got a lot more people we've got to get vaccinated before we get to the end of this," Cooper said.

"People who are unvaccinated are still at risk for getting COVID, and we know that it can be deadly," he said.