How NC’s reopening plan compares to South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee
Phase One of North Carolina’s reopening plan begins at 5 p.m. Friday. Gov. Roy Cooper’s new executive order lifts several restrictions, though the overall stay-at-home order remains in place until Phase Two.
This first phase lets most retail businesses reopen except personal-care services like hair salons and barbershops, entertainment venues and gyms. Restaurants may only only offer drive-through, take out and delivery. Some states bordering North Carolina have begun lifting some of those restrictions.
Also under North Carolina’s Phase One, gatherings of 10 are allowed outside, as long as social distancing and masks are used. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen urges people to wear masks, stand six feet apart from each other and wash hands frequently.
Cooper, a Democrat, has been criticized by some Republicans for not announcing his plan sooner, or lifting restrictions as quickly as neighboring states led by Republican governors.
Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, called Cooper’s plan a “blanket, one-size-fits-all statewide order,” and said other states have “more reasonable approaches.”
The Phase One order expires May 22, and more restrictions will be lifted in the second phase.
North Carolina had more than 12,700 COVID-19 cases and 477 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon.
Virginia
Virginia has more than 20,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with more than 700 deaths.
Its stay-at-home order was signed in March to last until June 10, but Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said he would begin easing some restrictions May 15. Northam was quicker to close schools than Cooper.
As in North Carolina, local restrictions in Virginia will be able to remain tighter than statewide ones. Cooper has said local orders should be followed in addition to the statewide order. Durham requires people to wear masks.
Tennessee
Tennesee Gov. Bill Lee is reopening “non-contact recreation businesses” like bowling alleys and golf on May 8.
Lee, a Republican, also reopened close-contact businesses like barbershops and hair salons on May 6, with restrictions.
Tennessee had more than 13,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 220 deaths as of Tuesday.
South Carolina
South Carolina had more than 6,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 300 deaths as of Wednesday.
Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, allowed South Carolina restaurants to start serving customers in outdoor dining May 4.
Georgia
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, let dine-in restaurants and personal-care businesses reopen at the end of April.
Georgia had more than 30,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1,300 deaths as of Wednesday.
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
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