Starting May 8, Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials want to reopen North Carolina in three phases. Here is a look at what you can – and can’t – do.
Phase 1: May 8-May 22
Phase 1 takes effect at 5 p.m. on May 8
- People should continue to stay at home as much as possible.
- Many non-essential businesses and retail stores can reopen to customers at 50% capacity.
- Restaurant dining rooms remain closed; restaurants are still limited to takeout, delivery or drive-thru service.
- Employees and customers at all open businesses should practice social distancing and enhanced hygiene and cleaning.
- Employees should be screened for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms before entering their workplaces.
- People should work from home whenever possible.
- Child care reopens for working families.
- People should wear masks outside of their homes or when social distancing is difficult.
- Parks and trails can reopen, but public playgrounds remain closed.
- People should not gather in groups greater than 10.
- Senior citizens and at-risk groups should avoid public gatherings.
- Strict rules and restrictions stay in place at nursing homes and other care facilities, including rehab centers and hospitals. Visitors are banned.
What’s open: Restaurants (takeout, delivery or drive thru only), essential stores like banks, pharmacies, grocers, and hardware stores and smaller non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores, craft stores, gift shops, book stores, etc.
What’s still closed: Salons, spas, tattoo parlors, gyms, places of worship, entertainment venues like movie theaters, bowling alleys and performance/sports arenas and indoor dining rooms.
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