Governor Roy Cooper recently announced that North Carolina will remain in the Safer at Home Phase 2 for three more weeks, pushing the possible date for moving to Phase 3 to July 17th at 5:00 pm.
During the announcement, Governor Cooper also included that face coverings must be worn when people are in public places (inside or outside) where physical distancing of six feet is not possible.
Additionally, certain businesses must have employees and customers wear face coverings, including retail businesses, restaurants, personal care and grooming; employees of child care centers and camps; state government agencies under the Governor’s Cabinet; workers and riders of transportation; and workers in construction/trades, manufacturing, agriculture, meat processing and healthcare and long-term care settings.
Face coverings had been “strongly recommended” up until this point.
All aspects of the original Safer at Home Phase 2 remain in place for this extension including:
- Certain businesses may be open with restrictions and following state health guidelines, including: restaurants; child care businesses; overnight and day camps; personal care; grooming, massage, and tattoo businesses; and indoor and outdoor pools;
- People may gather together for social purposes, so long as they do not exceed the mass gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
- Sporting and entertainment events may occur in large venues for broadcast to the public, so long as the number of spectators at the events is limited to the mass gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
- Public playgrounds remain closed; • Bars and nightclubs remain closed;
- Movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys, amusement parks, arcades, and skating rinks remain will closed;
- Bingo parlors and other gaming establishments will remain closed;
- Teleworking continues to be encouraged whenever possible;
- Visitation in skilled nursing homes and combination homes remains restricted except for certain compassionate care situations; and
- The following facilities that operate within an indoor space remain closed: martial arts facilities, dance studios, trampoline and rock-climbing facilities, roller skating rinks, ice staking rinks, and basketball courts.
Visit governor.nc.gov for additional information.