By WECT Staff | November 10, 2020 at 1:12 PM EST – Updated November 10 at 4:35 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) – North Carolina will remain in Phase 3 while the indoor gathering limit will go down from 25 to 10, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday.
This new executive order goes into effect on Friday, Nov. 13, and will be in place until Friday, Dec. 4.
“Our numbers are too high. Considering our trends and cooler weather driving events indoors, North Carolina will remain paused in our current Phase 3 and we will adjust our indoor gathering limit down from 25 to 10 people,” Cooper said. “The science shows that the transmission of this virus is much greater indoors. And the more people who are gathered, the easier this virus can spread. We saw increasing spread from social gatherings in October.
“This reduction in our indoor gathering limit aims to slow the spread and bring down our numbers. It also sends a serious signal to families, friends and neighbors across our state.”
According to the governor’s office, the following gatherings/events are not subject to the 10-person indoor mass gathering limit:
- Worship, religious, spiritual gatherings, wedding ceremonies, funeral services, and other First Amendment activities
- Gatherings for work or for receiving governmental services
- Gatherings at places that are subject to other capacity limits stated in the Executive Orders. These include fitness and exercise facilities, restaurants, personal care businesses, museums and aquariums, movie theaters, hotels, conference centers, and reception venues.
- Normal operations at airports, bus and train stations or stops, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and shopping centers.
- Families of more than 10 people who reside together.
“… I want North Carolinians to keep something else in mind as plans come together,” Cooper said. “This pandemic will end. A vaccine is in the final stages of development and the FDA has authorized a promising new treatment. Hope is on the horizon. This pandemic will not last forever.
“As frustrating and painful as it is, we must keep fighting a little while longer. We don’t want to let the last 8 months of sacrifices go to waste by dropping our guard or ignoring safety measures during family gatherings. We’ve come too far to lose our focus now.”
HAPPENING NOW: Gov. Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are scheduled to hold a media briefing at 3 p.m.
Posted by WECT News on Tuesday, November 10, 2020
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