Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening begins on Friday at 5 p.m., with many businesses given the ability to open at a limited capacity.

After two weeks of being in Phase 1, Governor Roy Cooper said North Carolina has been hitting enough indicators and benchmarks for testing and tracing of COVID-19 to move into Phase 2. Entering this phase, however, will be different from the plan originally laid out in April, since positive coronavirus cases in North Carolina continue to rise.

Phase 2 will allow for more residents to gather than before while remaining socially distanced. The governor said the order will require no more than 10 people indoors and no more than 25 people outdoors.

These businesses are allowed to accept customers indoors again at 50 percent capacity:

  • Restuarants
  • Barbershops/salons
  • Swimming pools

The businesses listed above can open so long as they continue to clean and require face coverings. Overnight and day camps are also open with expanded safety rules.

The following businesses will remain closed:

  • Gyms/fitness centers
  • Bars
  • Nightclubs
  • Indoor entertainment venues (bowling alleys, movie theaters, etc.)
  • Public playgrounds

Some of the businesses listed above were initially planned to open during Phase 2, but health officials modified the order due to the state still falling short of a key surveillance trend.

“This is because the potential spread of COVID-19 can be significant there,” said Cooper about the businesses that will remain closed. “When people gather together, one person can be the spark to gather too many. We can only help our economy when people have confidence in their own safety, which is why it’s important to ease restrictions carefully.”

Residents are recommend to stay home as much as possible. Cooper said at-risk residents should continue to remain vigilant and cautious, and encouraged people to continue teleworking as much as possible.

Phase 2 will officially go into effect across North Carolina at 5 p.m. and is slated to potentially last five weeks.

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