BREAKING: Gov. Cooper OK’s ‘limited easing of restrictions’
Many retailers cleared to reopen Friday; Bars, restaurants, gyms and barbershops could be good to go as soon as May 22
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N.C. to enter ‘Phase 1’ of reopening on Friday at 5 p.m., governor says
- Most businesses and parks can open
- Restaurants, gyms and hair salons could follow as early as May 22
- Still under modified stay-at-home order; telecommuting encouraged
- Unveils “the 3 W’s”: wear (face mask), wait (6 feet apart), wash (hands)
by Tony Mecia
North Carolina will allow almost all retail businesses to reopen on Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper said this afternoon, marking the start of the effort to revive the state’s decimated economy.
“We have to keep taking steps to keep people safe,” Cooper said at a news conference. “And at the same time, we know we cannot stay in our homes forever.”
The entry into “Phase 1” allows the reopening of businesses that mostly fall into a category that county officials have started calling “discretionary retail,” such as shops that sell clothing, jewelry and toys. The move is also a welcome step to many other businesses that remain closed, because it signals that their time to reopen could be coming soon, too. More than 1 million North Carolinians have filed for unemployment benefits in the last six weeks, or roughly 20% of the state’s workforce.
Still on hold: Bars, restaurants, hair and nail salons, gyms and certain other businesses will remain closed until “Phase 2,” which could start as soon as May 22. State residents will remain under a stay-at-home order for now but will be permitted to shop at the newly opened stores.
Although businesses may start to reopen, the pace of economic recovery is expected to be slow, as The Ledger reported last week. Surveys have shown that many consumers are in no hurry to resume their on-the-go lifestyles, and some worry about a second wave of infections from reopening too soon.
The number of businesses allowed to reopen is unclear. A study by the National Retail Federation estimated that there were about 116,000 retailers in North Carolina, who employed nearly 900,000 workers. Officials have estimated that about half of retailers have had to remain closed since March.
The elements of North Carolina’s “Phase 1” are:
Most businesses can open
Retail businesses can open at 50% capacity with frequent cleaning and social distancing
Parks and trails are encouraged to re-open
Certain businesses (gyms, salons, bars, theaters) will remain closed
Restaurants continue to be takeout and delivery only
Gatherings still limited to 10 people, but gathering outdoors with friends is allowed
Employers are still encouraged to telework when possible
Childcare centers that follow strict cleaning requirements can open for working parents or those looking for work
Worship services of more than 10 people allowed outdoors if socially distanced
Does the data support it?
At a news conference on April 23, Cooper said the state would be examining the data for evidence that the spread of the coronavirus is slowing. He announced seven specific benchmarks that included the number of new daily cases, hospitalizations and test results, as well as having adequate supplies of protective equipment and performing more tests.
In recent days, some of that data has fallen in line with Cooper’s objectives. For instance, on Sunday, the state said it had a one-day supply of N95 respirators. On Tuesday, it said it had a 31-day supply.
Other statistical measures, though, still appeared to fall short of Cooper’s goals for a “sustained leveling” over a 14-day period — though the numbers aren’t increasing exponentially, either. For instance, the number of new daily cases as reported by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services hit new highs in the last week:
And here are the statewide daily coronavirus hospitalizations, which were reported on Tuesday to be 17 below the all-time high hit last week:
Health and Human Services secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen acknowledged that some of the measures were not flat. She instead referred to them as “relatively stable.”
On the number of confirmed cases, she said, “The fact we see a slight increase in cases is expected,” given stepped-up testing. Pressed by a reporter on hospitalization numbers that seem to be rising, she said, “Given the amount of hospital capacity that we have, even a fluctuation up or down of 100 people, we have a lot of capacity in our hospital systems.” The state has about 6,500 empty hospital beds and 910 empty ICU beds, according to state figures.
She and Cooper said the state would be watching the data closely for signs of a spike.
New catchphrase? Cohen also unveiled what the state is hoping to make a new catchphrase: “the 3 W’s”: wear (cloth mask), wait (6 feet apart) and wash (hands).
[The Ledger has been exploring state and county data in more detail in the Charlotte Ledger Covid-19 Data Room.]
Restrictions coming off
Cooper’s announcement Tuesday is the latest in a series of recent rollbacks, as health officials note progress against containing the spread of the coronavirus. Statewide, 452 deaths have been attributed to the virus, including 57 in Mecklenburg.
In the number of confirmed coronavirus cases per capita, North Carolina ranks No. 42 nationally, according to an analysis by the New York Times. On coronavirus deaths per capita, it ranks No. 35.
Last week, Mecklenburg County loosened a number of restrictions: It reopened boat ramps and the parking lots of county parks, allowed residents to resume playing tennis and permitted real estate agents to show homes.
Following neighbors: Some bordering states are reopening at a slightly quicker pace. Tennessee reopened restaurants and retail shops last week. South Carolina retailers have been back in business since last week, and on Monday the state allowed restaurants with outdoor seating to reopen.
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The Charlotte Ledger is an e-newsletter and web site publishing timely, informative, and interesting local business news and analysis Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, except holidays and as noted. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire; Reporting intern: David Griffith