'It's different but I'm excited.' Downtown Raleigh businesses, patrons adapt to lifted restrictions
On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that those fully vaccinated for coronavirus don't need to wear a mask indoors at most places. He also dropped social distancing and capacity limits. Glenwood South business owners said they were busy adjusting to the sudden change, and trying to figure out whether or not they would require masks.
Posted — UpdatedGlenwood South business owners said they were busy adjusting to the sudden change, and trying to figure out whether or not they would require masks.
Lucky B's said they're capacity is back to normal, and if you're fully vaccinate -- you don't need a mask.
"We thought it was happening in June," said Lucky B's bartender Travis Wisk.
Wisk said while he's ready for the change, he was thrown off guard and left with a few questions.
"I'm fully vaccinated, so personally, I'm not concerned but I don't know how we'll be able to tell," he said.
According to Cooper, the state will require masks in public schools, health care settings public transit and prisons, but it's up to individual businesses and local governments to decide what is best for them.
"It's definitely new. It's been like two years since I've been in a room without people having their masks on, so it's different but I'm excited," said Dylan Kahuluea-Keilly.
Kahuluea-Keilly is visiting Raleigh from Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. While he's still required to wear a mask while on base at Fort Bragg, while in Glenwood South he came prepared, just in case.
"We keep our vaccine cards on us. If not, we have pictures of if," he added.
Cooper had previously planned to lift the statewide mask mandate on June 1 or after two-thirds of adults statewide had at least one COVID-19 shot. As of Friday, more than 50% of adults in the state have received at least one dose.
"As we get more people vaccinated in the state, those fears of mine kind of diminish each weak," said Michael Bruce, an employee at Lucky B's.
Bruce said that Cooper's announcement is good news for business, but he hopes that people are honest about their vaccine status.
"Obviously, you're going to have people that are going to try to game the system and take advantage of it," said Bruce. "There's nothing you can do about that."
Business owners said that another issues restaurants are facing is having enough staff to keep up with demand, since many weren't expecting capacity changes until June.
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