On March 23, 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 204 to continue relaxing some of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Wearing masks in public remains mandatory, and gatherings are limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Unless updated by the governor, the order will expire on April 30 at 5 p.m.
Here are the current restrictions for businesses:
- There is no longer a curfew nor limits on the late-night sale of alcohol;
- Mask wearing and social distancing of at least six feet remain mandatory;
- Operations up to 100% capacity indoors and outdoors are allowed at:
- Museums and aquariums;
- Retailers; and
- Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors.
- Operations up to 75% capacity indoors and 100% capacity outdoors are allowed at:
- Restaurants;
- Breweries, wineries and distilleries;
- Recreation facilities, such as bowling alleys, skating rinks and rock climbing walls;
- Fitness facilities. such as gyms, yoga studios and other fitness centers;
- Pools; and
- Amusement parks.
- Operations up to 50% capacity indoors and outdoors are allowed at:
- Bars;
- Movie theaters (up to 75% outdoors);
- Gaming facilities (up to 75% outdoors);
- Meeting, reception and conference spaces;
- Lounges (including tobacco) and night clubs;
- Auditoriums, arenas and other venues for live performances; and
- Sports arenas and fields for professional, collegiate and amateur events.
Activities and settings are lower risk when they involve interacting with fewer people, being outside, keeping masks on the entire time, keeping interactions with others under 15 minutes, staying physically distant, and avoiding singing, yelling and cheering.
For more info on North Carolina’s COVID-19 response, call the NC 2-1-1 hotline or consult the state’s COVID-19 guidance resources.