North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has signed an executive order for the state to enter Phase 1 of lifting the restrictions issued during the COVID-19 pandemic beginning Friday at 5 p.m.

Cooper said North Carolinians’ efforts to stay home, use face coverings and physically distance themselves when in public have affected the virus’ spread enough to move into this initial phase of a ‘new normal.’

The stay at home order will remain in place as part of Phase 1, but Cooper said this order will modify it to ease some of the restrictions. The governor said if North Carolina’s trends begin to show rises in COVID-19 cases again, the order will be modified to the original restrictions enacted in March.

So what’s changes have been made?

  • Phase 1 removes the designation of essential and non-essential businesses. Retail businesses can open up to 50 percent capacity with frequent cleaning and if they have customers follow social distancing guidelines.
  • Businesses that make social distancing difficult — like gyms, barbershops, nail salons and entertainment venues — will remain closed and plans are for them to reopen in Phase 2.
  • Protests and worship services can be conducted for groups more than 10 people if held outdoors and if people are properly socially distanced, according to the governor. Cooper also said summer camps that are not overnight can also be held in this phase.
  • Restaurants and bars will still continue to serve only takeout and delivery orders, according to the guidelines.
  • Officials have also recommended that employers have employees continue to telework as much as possible.

“I think employers are being creative to make sure employees are safe and getting work done,” said Cooper. “Those are the kinds of things we want them to do so we can ignite our economy and stay safe at the same time.”

The executive order that will begin Phase 1 in North Carolina is initially slated to last until Friday, May 22.

As of Thurday, North Carolina is reporting 13,868 coronavirus cases within the state and 527 deaths from the virus.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Bill to Reopen NC Gyms, Bars Sent to Skeptical Governor After Passing House
The North Carolina legislature passed another bill on Wednesday overturning parts of Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order that keep certain businesses closed to discourage the spread of COVID-19. As with previous legislation sent to him seeking to reopen bars, Cooper is also likely to veto the latest measure, which also ends the shuttering of gyms […]
Trump Threatens to Move RNC Without Assurances from Governor Cooper
President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state’s Democratic governor doesn’t immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Trump’s tweets about the RNC, planned for Charlotte, come just two days after North Carolina recorded its largest daily increase in […]
NC Judge Blocks Governor's Virus-related Orders on Churches
A federal judge in North Carolina on Saturday sided with conservative Christian leaders and blocked the enforcement of restrictions that Gov. Roy Cooper ordered affecting indoor religious services during the coronavirus pandemic. The order from Judge James C. Dever III came days after two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed a […]
Prison Workers Get Free Testing; Gear Going to Nursing Homes
The North Carolina government is offering widespread testing or protective equipment to workers in two of the more vulnerable living settings for COVID-19 outbreaks. The Department of Public Safety unveiled on Thursday a plan to make free testing available starting next week to over 21,000 employees in state prisons or juvenile facilities or those who […]
Lawsuit Filed to Block NC Governor's Order on Churches
Conservative Christian leaders sued North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday to get thrown out his latest restrictions on indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue the limits, initiated by Cooper with health in mind, violate their rights to worship freely. Two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed the […]
Sen. Berger Asks Gov. Cooper to Let Counties Reopen Barbershops
One of North Carolina’s most powerful Republican elected officials has called on Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to give county governments the ability to reopen barbershops and hair salons now. Senate leader Phil Berger said on Wednesday that most Southeastern states have allowed these personal service businesses to reopen in some capacity. They are mostly run […]
Chapel Hill Transit Continuing Limited Hours, Bus Lines Despite Phase 1
Phase 1 and the end of Orange County’s stay at home order will have no affect on Chapel Hill Transit, as the system is continuing its modified services and schedules. The Town of Chapel Hill’s transit system shared a release Friday ahead of North Carolina entering Phase 1 to share its current bus routes and […]
Governor Cooper Defends Rules for Businesses, Churches
Stating “pandemics cannot be partisan,” North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday defended his eased stay-at-home order as criticism mounted from elected Republican officials and demonstrators who gather weekly outside his home. Cooper’s altered COVID-19 order, which took effect Friday, allowed more businesses to open to customers as long as social distancing rules are […]
Health Chief: NC Church Service Restriction Being Reviewed
North Carolina legislators and leading sheriffs want Gov. Roy Cooper to clarify or remove a portion of his executive order that limits how religious services can convene under his eased stay-at-home rules for COVID-19. Cooper’s health and human services secretary said on Monday that state lawyers and others are taking a second look at the language […]
Virus Directives Mean Hundreds More NC Prisoners Go Home
Nearly 200 inmates within North Carolina’s prison system have been allowed to serve the rest of their sentences outside of prison to discourage the spread of COVID-19, state officials said Thursday. The Department of Public Safety released figures showing how it is carrying out an initiative announced last month to allow some prisoners, including those at […]
›