At his press conference Tuesday afternoon, Governor Roy Cooper announced that Phase 3 of the state’s reopening will be extended for a second time until December 4.
During this extension, Cooper said the indoor gathering limit will be decreased to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“Our numbers are too high,” Cooper said. “Considering our trends and cooler weather driving events indoors, North Carolina will remain paused in our current Phase 3 and we will adjust our indoor gathering limit down from 25 to 10 people.”
Under Executive Order 176, the outdoor mass gathering limit will remain at 50 people. Reduced capacity limits for restaurants, bars and gyms will also remain unchanged. Religious gatherings, wedding ceremonies, funeral services and other First Amendment activities are not subject to the 10-person indoor mass gathering limit.
Cooper said the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) saw an increase in COVID-19 spread from social gatherings in October. He said this reduction in indoor gatherings aims to slow that spread and bring down the number of cases in the state.
Our trends have avoided spikes but they remain stubbornly high. That is troubling. Other states have experienced spikes that have jumped quickly on them and their hospitals, causing more sickness and death. To avoid that, we need to focus on bringing our numbers down.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) November 10, 2020
Last Friday, the NCDHHS reported the most new COVID-19 cases in a single day since the pandemic began, with 2,908 cases. The state also reported 1,230 statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 on Tuesday, the second highest total since the pandemic began. Nationwide, Johns Hopkins University says the country has now passed 10 million cases.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow, North Carolina health officials continue to urge residents to follow the three W’s: wearing masks, washing hands and waiting six feet apart. Face coverings are still required in public when it is not possible to maintain social distancing from non-household members.
For restaurants in need of aid as indoor gathering limits are decreased and pandemic restrictions continue, Cooper said the state will be offering emergency assistance to those who need it.
“In addition, we have been providing some direct help, and this week there’ll be some additional assistance for restaurants,” Cooper said. “Starting Thursday, full-service restaurants seeking help with rent payments or mortgage interest may apply to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for up to $20,000 dollars.”
As North Carolina and the country continues to wade it’s way through the pandemic, Cooper said it’s important to remain safe and vigilant through the holiday season – whether that means reducing the Thanksgiving invite list, spacing out tables or getting a COVID test before an event.
“I want North Carolinians to keep something else in mind as plans come together,” Cooper said. “This pandemic will end. A vaccine is in the final stages of development and the FDA has authorized a promising new treatment. Hope is on the horizon. This pandemic will not last forever.”
North Carolina first moved into Phase 3 of its reopening on October 2 and was initially set to expire on October 23.
Read more about Phase 3 restrictions and regulations here.
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