Governor reveals 3-phase plan to re-open state
While surrounding states are seemingly firing back up for close to business as usual, North Carolina will have to wait a bit longer.
Gov. Roy Cooper extended his Stay-at-Home Order for eight more days, as the restriction is set to be lifted Friday, May 8. The original target date was Wednesday.
After May 8, a sense of normalcy can return for citizens, albeit at a much slower pace than surrounding states – and only if data shows a continued “flattening” of the COVID-19 curve.
Cooper documented a three-phase process for re-opening North Carolina, sticking true to his analogy of wishing to open the state at a pace of a dimmer switch, rather than an on/off.
The first phase would mainly allow citizens to leave their homes and shop at retailers that have otherwise closed during the pandemic, while still following stay-at-home protocol. Social gatherings still could not exceed 10 people. This phase would last 2-3 weeks, or until data shows phase 2 can begin.
The second phase – which would begin roughly around the start of June – would eliminate the Stay-at-Home Order entirely except for high-risk patients. Restaurants and bars could resume limited table service, while playgrounds, churches, entertainment venues, gyms, pools and salons could reopen under occupancy limits.
After phase 2 comes to an end – predicted to be around Independence Day – the state will relax personal-distancing requirements at venues open to the public. At-risk patients would be allowed to leave home but would be expected to follow social distancing guidelines.
The plan was met with mixed reaction, with Lt. Gov. Dan Forest dismissing the gradual re-opening process as unnecessary. “Gov. Cooper’s one-size-fits-all approach for reopening is not necessary for a state as large as North Carolina,” Forest said. “This decision will needlessly crush businesses and destroy livelihoods in places that don’t even have a single case of coronavirus.
“We shouldn’t be holding back counties that are ready to safely reopen. The governor should re-release the data he presented at the county level so we can see which areas are ready to reopen without delay.”