NC to drop mask mandate outdoors, relax limits on gatherings, Cooper says
Starting Friday, people no longer will be required to wear masks outdoors in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday, as he issued a new executive order that further eases restrictions on rules meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Under the new order, the number of people allowed to gather in one place will be doubled to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors, Cooper said.
But Cooper said COVID-19 is still too prevalent in the state to fully lift restrictions. While the numbers of new coronavirus cases and people hospitalized with COVID-19 have improved compared to this winter, that improvement has stalled.
“We’re grateful that North Carolina continues to hold steady when it comes to our COVID-19 metrics. But while our numbers remain stable, we’re not seeing the decline in metrics that we’d like to see,” he said during a press conference. “This tells us that the pandemic is not over.”
The new mask order comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Tuesday, saying those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear face coverings outdoors in small gatherings or while exercising outdoors alone. The CDC did not say that people should stop wearing masks everywhere outdoors.
In North Carolina, athletes in youth, high school and amateur athletic events no longer will need to wear masks when playing outdoors, the order said. Masks are still required for indoor exercise and athletic events, the order said.
Cooper announced last week that he expected to lift almost all pandemic restrictions by June 1. On Wednesday, he outlined what will happen in the meantime.
Under the current executive order that expires April 30, most outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people and indoor gatherings to 50 people. Retail establishments can operate at full capacity, but restaurants and fitness centers are limited to 75% capacity inside. Bars, concert venues and sports arenas are limited to 50% capacity.
Under the new order issued Wednesday, those capacity limits for restaurants, bars and other venues will remain unchanged in May, with one exception: Arenas and other large venues for live performances may be allowed higher capacity if state officials sign off on their health and safety plan.
That includes venues with indoor seating capacity over 5,000 people and outdoor venues with seating more than 1,000. The approval is only for the next month, unless the order is extended.
The governor’s office notes that outdoor parades, fairs and festivals will need to comply with the 200-person outdoor gathering limit but that “qualifying large outdoor venues” may seek approval from NC DHHS to expand that capacity.
Increase in vaccinations
In announcing plans to lift restrictions by June 1, Cooper cited the growing number of people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as well as progress in curbing spread of the virus.
As of Wednesday, about 39% of adults 18 and older in North Carolina have been fully vaccinated, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Of those 65 and older, who are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, that number is 72.5%.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday that vaccinations among older people are producing results.
“We are seeing significantly fewer cases and hospitalizations in older North Carolinians, and that’s positive,” Cohen said during the press conference.
So far this month, about 1,700 new coronavirus cases have been reported to the state each day on average. That’s down from a peak of more than 6,400 cases a day in January but up from an average of 1,676 per day in March.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has ticked up this month as well, from less than 1,000 at the end of March to 1,117 on Wednesday.
Last week, Cohen said the state will continue to require people to wear masks in indoor public places until two-thirds of adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of Wednesday, that number stood at less than 49%.
“If we work together getting vaccinated and keeping our COVID metrics in a good place, we can lift mandatory social distancing, capacity and mass gathering restrictions on June 1,” Cohen said. “That’s our first goal. And it’s a big step to bringing summer back to North Carolina.”
Since the pandemic began a year ago, 965,536 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in North Carolina, according to the state, and 12,619 have died of COVID-19.
This story was originally published April 28, 2021 at 2:24 PM.
