A new executive order from Governor Roy Cooper will ease some COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in North Carolina today.

Under Executive Order 204 — which will go into effect on Friday at 5 p.m. — some businesses will be allowed to increase capacity up to 100 percent indoors and outdoors with safety protocols in place. This includes museums, aquariums, retail businesses and shops, salons and personal care shops.

“The new order will allow some places to increase capacity up to 75 percent indoors and up to 100 percent outdoors,” Cooper said at a media briefing earlier this week. “They include restaurants, breweries, wineries, amusement parks, gyms and pools, and other recreation establishments.”

North Carolina will also lift its 11 p.m. curfew for on-site alcohol consumption. Cooper had previously modified the state’s alcohol curfew — extending sale hours from 10 to 11 p.m. — earlier this year.

Finally, the mass gathering limit within North Carolina, which covers other kinds of gatherings not laid out in the order, will be increased to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. The previous mass gathering limit was 25 indoors and 50 outdoors.

In regards to attendance at athletic events in Chapel Hill, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said that the new executive order will not affect the university significantly.

“The six-feet physical distancing requirement means that the capacities at our venues will not significantly change at this time,” wrote Cunningham. “We currently can fill about 22 percent of our seats in each of our venues with six-feet distancing, and we will continue to prioritize ticketing family members of student-athletes and coaches, as well as Carolina students.”

Safety protocols, such as the mandatory mask mandate, will remain in place across North Carolina.

This new executive order easing pandemic restrictions comes as North Carolina moves to open up vaccination eligibility for more residents.

In addition to moving up the remainder of Group 4 to March 31, Cooper announced that all residents 16 and older will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting on April 7. The beginning of Group 4 – which includes individuals with high-risk medical conditions — initially began on March 17.

Data from North Carolina Health & Human Services shows that over 26 percent of North Carolina’s population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 15 percent having been fully vaccinated.

Featured image via Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal

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
‹
Gov. Cooper: Remaining Essential Workers in Group 3 to Become Vaccine-Eligible on Wednesday
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper shared updates to the state’s coronavirus vaccination efforts Tuesday, saying essential workers in Group 3 will become eligible to make appointments beginning on Wednesday. The announcement comes nearly one week after prioritized education personnel in Group 3 became eligible to make appointments for vaccination across North Carolina. Around 240,000 people, […]
NC Governor Pardons Man Who Had Murder Convictions Vacated
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper granted a pardon of innocence Friday to a man imprisoned for two decades before his two murder convictions were vacated more than four years ago by a trial judge. The pardon means Darryl Anthony Howard, who is now 58, can apply to the North Carolina Industrial Commission for compensation of […]
Interest on NC Taxes Paid Waived in Bill Signed by Cooper
North Carolina income tax filers won’t have to pay interest on payments turned in by the new May 17 deadline in a bill signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper late Tuesday. The legislation, signed by Cooper after the measure was given final legislative approval earlier Tuesday, addresses a result from an IRS decision to push […]
FBI Starts Probe Into Death of Black Man Killed by Deputies
Written by BEN FINLEY and JONATHAN DREW The FBI launched a civil rights probe Tuesday into the death of Andrew Brown Jr., a Black man killed by deputies in North Carolina, as his family released an independent autopsy showing he was shot five times, including in the back of the head. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper […]
Cooper Address Focuses On COVID, Finding Agreement With GOP
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper recalled the pain and courage stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in his State of the State address Monday, while urging Republicans to cooperate with him this year on health care, education and infrastructure needs. “In a year of hardship and loss, we owe it to […]
Legislature Inviting NC Gov. Cooper To Give Biennial Address
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will give his “State of the State” speech to a joint session of the General Assembly next week. Spokespeople for Cooper and top Republican legislative leaders confirmed on Monday that plans are in place for the governor to deliver the biennial address. A resolution inviting Cooper to give the speech at 7 […]
Cooper Nominates NC Education Board Leaders To Stay On Panel
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper nominated on Thursday the current chairman and vice chairman of the State Board of Education to serve eight additional years on the panel. Eric Davis, the chairman since 2018, and Vice Chairman Alan Duncan were among four people that the governor asked the General Assembly to confirm for the board. […]
NC House Votes for Guardrails on Governor's Emergency Powers
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s governor would have to get formal support from other elected leaders to carry out long-term emergency orders in a measure approved Wednesday by the state House. The 69-50 party-line result favored Republicans, who’ve chafed under Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s directives during the COVID-19 pandemic and drafted the legislation. Cooper’s […]
North Carolina Eviction Moratorium Extended To June 30
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday a three-month extension of the statewide eviction moratorium that had been set to expire at the end of March. The updated executive order comes a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directed states to extend protections through June 30. The CDC order applies to all standard rental […]
North Carolina Eased Some Pandemic Restrictions on Friday. Here's What You Need to Know.
A new executive order from Governor Roy Cooper will ease some COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in North Carolina today. Under Executive Order 204 — which will go into effect on Friday at 5 p.m. — some businesses will be allowed to increase capacity up to 100 percent indoors and outdoors with safety protocols in place. This includes […]
›