ROCKINGHAM — Gov. Roy Cooper is loosening the governmental grip on statewide businesses at the end of the week as COVID-19 vaccinations increase and new cases decline.
His latest executive order, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. March 26, allows for varied occupancies on certain establishments and venues.
However, the state’s mask mandate and social distancing requirements of keeping 6 feet apart will remain in place.
Retail businesses, museums and aquariums — many of which are state-run — and salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care businesses will be allowed to open at full capacity.
Others have separate occupancy restrictions:
Cooper has been challenged in several lawsuits from North Carolina bar owners for treating those establishments differently than restaurants and other similar businesses.
The order also increases mass gathering limits to 100 outdoors and 50 indoors.
“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 in a statement.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, 31.7% of adults in the state have been vaccinated.
In Richmond County, 6,290 residents (14%) are fully vaccinated and 9,691 (21.6%) are partially vaccinated — more than neighboring Anson, Montgomery and Scotland counties.
DHHS has recruited college coaches, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and former governor Jim Hunt to help urge residents to get the vaccine.
DHHS reported 1,062 new cases statewide on Tuesday, slightly higher than the 892 on March 13.
The Richmond County Health Department has reported 13 new cases over the past four days, nine on Monday (which includes the weekend) and four on Tuesday. The number of active cases has dropped to 32, with no hospitalizations.
Statewide, there were 952 people hospitalized with the coronavirus on Monday. That number has increased slightly from the 934 reported March 20. Only 13 patients at FirstHealth hospitals were COVID-positive on Tuesday.
“We are in a promising place,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen. “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.”
Employees dubbed “essential frontline workers” — which include those working in critical manufacturing, education, grocery stores and in food and agriculture — are now eligible for the vaccine.
To sign up for the vaccine locally, call 910-417-3030 and leave your name, date of birth and phone number. Local health officials ask that callers not leave multiple messages.
Vaccinations aren’t restricted by residency.
Weekly vaccinations are also available at Scotland Memorial Hospital. To register for the clinic in Laurinburg, call 910-291-7654 during the hours of 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday for assistance.
(Note: This story has been edited to add mass gathering limits and a copy of the executive order, which is attached below. 7:41 p.m.)
