NC will no longer require mask, social distancing in most places
About six weeks shy of a year behind face coverings, North Carolinians have more places where they can shed the mask after Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Friday that the state would no longer require masks and social distancing.
Cooper put the state under that mandate on June 24, 2020, with the state's daily average of new coronavirus cases at about 1,300. Almost a year later and after a January peak of 8,700 new cases per day, North Carolina is back to an average of 1,300 new cases per day.
North Carolina's change to the mask mandate falls in line with updated guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control on Thursday. The state will still require mask use by all people in public schools, healthcare settings, in childcare, on public transit and in prisons.
All current capacity restrictions in indoor spaces have also been lifted.
"Getting vaccinated is our way through this," Cooper said. The CDC presented research on Thursday that showed the vaccine offers enough protection from the virus that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks.
The state's Department of Health and Human Services is still strongly urging people who are unvaccinated to continue wearing masks, but masks will no longer be required by law.
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"While today's news means that we are even closer to putting this behind us, it doesn't mean we are there yet," Cooper said. "The pandemic is still here, especially for those who are not vaccinated."
Businesses and local governments will still be able to require mask mandates, according to the governor. Chain stores like Target, Harris Teeter, Starbucks and Home Depot planned to continue requiring masks.
Cooper had originally planned to lift the statewide mask mandate on June 1 – or after two-thirds of adults statewide had at least one COVID shot. As of Friday, more than 50% of adults in the state have received at least one dose of vaccine. More than 35% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated – but that leaves many who are still not protected.
"Today's announcement is a big step forward, but it's not the finish line," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the NCDHHS.
Masks will still be required for children at summer camps, in childcare and in public schools, Cohen said. The state is still requiring masks for children because not all children are eligible to get vaccinated yet. The percent of children 17 and under testing positive for the virus has been increasing, according to Cohen.
The state said it is looking into offering incentives to individuals who do get vaccinated.
