What does NC’s new curfew mean for you? For stores? Answers to common questions
On Friday at 5 p.m., North Carolina begins a Modified Stay at Home Order that includes a statewide 10 p.m. curfew — a measure taken to try to flatten the recent upward trend in new cases and hospitalizations.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper described the new coronavirus metrics Tuesday as “alarming,” and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said the state is “setting records both for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and in the intensive care units.”
Hours before the curfew went into effect, the state reported 7,540 new cases, which Cohen described as “staggering.” She attributed the increase to the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings held two weeks ago.
Additionally, according to the state’s COVID-19 County Alert System, 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are in the “red” or most serious category, and more than 80% of counties are either red or orange.
Here are the details of the order from Tuesday’s news briefing.
What exactly does the new COVID-19 curfew mean?
The 10 p.m. curfew means that everyone must stay at home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are traveling to or from work or traveling to obtain essential goods or services, such as food, fuel, medical care. People can also travel during curfew hours if they must provide care for a family member.
This means that in addition to the current orders — requiring face masks, social distancing and business capacity limitations — retail stores, entertainment venues and personal care businesses must close by 10 p.m.
For restaurants, the rule applies to on-site dining, but you can still get delivery, visit drive-thrus or get takeout after 10. The last on-site alcohol consumption sales at restaurants and bars must happen by 9 p.m.
Are any retail businesses exempt from the 10 p.m. closure rule?
Cooper said businesses must close at 10 p.m. unless they sell groceries, food, pharmacy or fuel.
When does the COVID-19 curfew start in NC?
The curfew takes effect Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 at 5 p.m.
How long does the COVID-19 curfew last?
The new Modified Stay at Home Order, with the accompanying curfew, is effective until at least Jan. 8, 2021.
How will the curfew be enforced?
The News & Observer has reported that across the Triangle, police and city officials say curfews are not as oppressive as they might sound. Officers say they will not go specifically looking for violators and people likely will not be stopped for walking down late-night streets.
Instead, officers will treat the curfew as a chance to educate about the dangers of congregating in high numbers or in close quarters. They will respond to complaints about flagrant violators.
Read more here about how the curfew will be enforced.
What happens if this new order doesn’t bring down numbers?
Cooper said on Tuesday that “we will do more if the trends do not improve.” This could mean more restrictions on restaurant dining, indoor entertainment or shopping, or further restrictions on retail business capacity.
Do the recent spikes include Thanksgiving numbers?
Earlier this week, Cohen said we have yet to see the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings.
Cohen said the numbers we have been seeing are the people “who went to Thanksgiving already sick.”
By Friday, though, Cohen said recent surges were a result of Thanksgiving gatherings.
Can we safely gather for Christmas and Hanukkah?
Cohen said on Tuesday that the state has a “big ask” of its citizens: avoid traveling or gathering with those outside your household over the holiday season.
She suggested that if families insist on gathering with those outside their household, that everyone get tested ahead of time, wear a mask and keep the gatherings small or outdoors.
When can we get a COVID-19 vaccine?
The first round of vaccines could arrive in North Carolina as early as next week. In North Carolina, about 85,000 doses would first go to hospital workers at high risk of exposure — those who are caring for COVID-19 patients or cleaning areas occupied by COVID patients.
The state will continue to receive more allocations of the vaccine after that on a weekly basis.
After that, other healthcare workers at high risk of exposure and long-term care staff and residents are at the top of the list for early doses.
This story was originally published December 8, 2020 at 5:46 PM.
