BREAKING: Cooper says Covid restrictions to end by June 1
Governor cites progress in vaccinations; Mask requirement would remain
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Cooper envisions doing away with ‘all mandatory social distancing, capacity and mass gathering restrictions’ by June
by Tony Mecia and Cristina Bolling
Citing substantial progress in getting Covid vaccines into people’s arms, Gov. Roy Cooper said he thinks the state will be able to end most Covid restrictions by June.
At a news conference this afternoon, Cooper said: “With increasing vaccination rates and ongoing work to slow the spread of the virus, I anticipate that we will be able to lift all mandatory social distancing, capacity and mass gathering restrictions by June 1.”
Throughout the pandemic, it has been unusual, if not unprecedented, for Cooper to make a prediction about restrictions so far in advance — six weeks from now, in this case. But he said the increased number of vaccinations make a return to more normal life safe and sensible.
He said the state still has more work to do ensuring that more residents receive the Covid vaccine, but that there are now adequate supplies to get the vaccine to more people. He said he’d like 2/3 of adults to have “at least one shot as quickly as possible.”
“With at least 2/3 of adults vaccinated, our public health experts believe we’ll have enough protection across our communities to be able to live more safely with this virus and be able to put the pandemic behind us,” Cooper said.
State figures show that 47% of North Carolina adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 36% are fully vaccinated. Among the age group most vulnerable, 65 and up, 77% have received at least one dose, and 71% are fully vaccinated:
Mask requirements would remain, at least until 2/3 of North Carolinians are vaccinated. Cooper said he would sign an executive order next week detailing restrictions in May.
What it means: Setting June 1 as a target date for wiping away restrictions should lead to a big jolt for the economy — and a boost to planning all kinds of events that have been on hold for more than a year. Wiping away remaining Covid restrictions will also help reassure people that it’s safe to travel, meet friends, go to restaurants and so on.
As of last month, North Carolina has added back 418,000 of the 575,000 jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, or 73%. Economists expect the rest of those jobs to return this year.
Breathtaking growth ahead: As we wrote last month, examining the last time Charlotte emerged from a major pandemic:
Nationally, economists foresee some of the strongest economic growth in decades: A survey by The Wall Street Journal this month found that on average, economists are forecasting economic growth of nearly 6% this year. That would be the highest yearly rate in nearly 40 years.
“You’re looking at the biggest surge in economic growth that most people who are working today have ever experienced in their working lives,” Wells Fargo Securities economist Tim Quinlan told The Journal. The upcoming economic growth is “going to take people’s breaths away,” he said.
Effect on businesses: Lifting capacity restrictions will have a big effect on restaurants, which are currently allowed to operate at 75% capacity; and bars, concert venues, amusement parks and sports arenas, which are currently able to hold 50% capacity.
Does that increase the odds that Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe will keep their June 24 show at Bank of America Stadium? Seems like it.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Reporting intern: David Griffith