NC relaxes more COVID restrictions: Here’s what has changed

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper announced last week a further easing of restrictions across the state in light of continued vaccination efforts and improving COVID-19 metrics.

Cooper said his next Executive Order began Friday at 5 p.m. and expires on April 30.

“I just feel like there’s a very tangible shift in the feel of the city,” resident Kate Deluca said Friday night.

[CLICK HERE: Frequently asked questions about the new Executive Order]

“Our fast and fair vaccine distribution and our sustained progress with the COVID-19 metrics tell us we can move forward with easing restrictions if we do it safely,” Cooper said.

Executive Order No. 204 has three general categories of occupancy restrictions: up to 100% capacity, 75% capacity, and 50% capacity. All businesses must continue to maintain the six feet of distance requirement between patrons and implement other safety protocols as they expand their capacity.

The alcohol curfew was eliminated on Friday, allowing restaurants and bars to sell adult beverages any time they choose.

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Tony Reynolds, general manager at the Charlotte Beer Garden in South End. “I think it’s the perfect time for it to happen, especially with the weather the season and the time changing and everything.”

Reynolds added, “When it comes to the restrictions, nothing any different than what we’ve been doing.”

Business capacity limits were also relaxed, with some places being allowed to reopen at 100% capacity.

Retail stores, salons, museums and aquariums are a few of the businesses that are allowed to resume full capacity -- but physical distancing measures should remain in place inside those establishments, the governor said.

”Masks and six-feet of social distancing will still be required,” Cooper said.

Other businesses can open at 75% or 50% of capacity, including restaurants, amusement parks, wineries and other businesses.

“I didn’t even know it was coming,” said Matt Wohlfarth, with Dilworth Neighborhood Grille. “I wasn’t even paying attention.”

Wohlfarth said he will now hire more chefs since restrictions are being eased. The changes are coming at a time when he’s seeing more customers who are watching the Charlotte Hornets and March Madness.

“Hopefully, we stay at this level instead of sliding back, so when football rolls around in the fall, we are all ready for that,” Wolfarth said.

Arenas and stadiums can now admit 50% of their capacity. Stadiums like the new Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis can seat more people starting Friday.

“We don’t look at the number necessary as doing it the safe and right way from the get-go,” said Matt Millward, General Manager of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

The team’s first game was played Tuesday at the ballpark in downtown.

UNC Charlotte and App State played in front of a crowd at 30% capacity.

“It is just fun to get out of the house and to come see a ballgame,” fan Dave Galyan said.

“We are in a promising place,” NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said during the announcement. “With North Carolina’s COVID-19 key metrics improving and vaccinations increasing, we can responsibly use our dimmer switch approach to easing restrictions guided by science and data.”

Executive Order No. 204 also increases mass gathering limits. The number of people who can gather indoors increased from 25 to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 50 to 100.

Cooper stressed that physical-distancing regulations must remain in place at all North Carolina buildings, no matter what capacity category the building falls under. He also said that the state’s mask mandate will remain in place.

In North Carolina, 31.7% of those 18 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 18.8% of the population is fully vaccinated.

Indoors and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity:

• Museums and Aquariums
• Retail Businesses
• Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors

Indoors up to 75% and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity:

• Restaurants
• Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries
• Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing)
• Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, fitness centers)
• Pools
• Amusement Parks

Indoors and Outdoors up to 50% Capacity:

• Bars
• Movie Theaters*
• Gaming Facilities*
• Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
• Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
• Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances
• Sports Arenas and Fields (includes professional, collegiate, and amateur)

*Movie theaters and gaming facilities may operate at up to 75% capacity outdoors.

‘We just want to make sure we’re doing it right’: Local brewery ready for eased restrictions

‘We just want to make sure we’re doing it right’: Local brewery ready for eased restrictions

As COVID-19 restrictions ease across North Carolina, Cabarrus Brewing Company in Concord is preparing to let more customers inside.

Channel 9 spoke with one of CBC’s owners, Steve Steinbacher, about the preparations they’re making. He said it’s about striking a balance between letting customers cut loose while also keeping them safe.

“Yes, we can put more people in the building, but it still doesn’t relieve us of the responsibility of doing it right, in terms of social distancing and encouraging people to wear masks,” Steinbacher told Channel 9 anchor Susanna Black.

Under North Carolina’s eased restrictions, CBC can have 75% of its full capacity inside -- or 450 people. Steinbacher said they recognize that’s a lot of people and might reconsider allowing that many in at one time if proper social distancing can’t be maintained.

The brewery has utilized its vast outdoor space during the pandemic and will continue to do so.

“We have to think about, can we really manage social distancing? Can we manage people lining up, queuing up for beers?” Steinbacher said. “We just want to make sure we’re doing it right.”

He said they’re making slow, thoughtful changes, like adding more tables inside and increasing group sizes from six people to 10. He’s hopeful these careful measures will lead to bigger rewards down the road.

“I think if we can power through it the next few weeks, hopefully within the month or by June, we won’t have to be dealing with any of these restrictions,” Steinbacher said.

He added that the brewery is thankful to their loyal customers who’ve stuck with them throughout the pandemic and is asking for grace and patience as they navigate this new period.

Novant Health preparing to vaccinate everyone in NC

During his Thursday news conference, Gov. Cooper said everyone in Group 4 could receive the vaccine by March 31 and that every person in the state 16 or older would be eligible to get the shot by April 7.

Channel 9 spoke with Novant Health officials earlier this week, who said they were preparing for several different scenarios.

To date, Novant Health has administered more than 205,000 doses of vaccine to people in Groups 1-4A, and behind the scenes they’ve been talking about what it will look like to vaccinate Group 5, which includes everyone in the state.

North Carolina health leaders had previously planned to start vaccinating people in Group 4B on April 7. On Tuesday, one Novant Health official said that if things go the way they have been, that will most likely change.

“As we’ve gone through groups and had dates and deadlines, we have seen the date move up, so I fully expect the second part of Group 4 that is supposed to start on April 7 to move up,” said Nikki Nissen, Novant’s Vice President of Clinical Operations.

Novant officials said they will need more volunteers and employees to handle Group 5 vaccinations.

Cooper relaxing restrictions on bars, restaurants, more: Here’s what’s changing

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