Cooper to ease some pandemic restrictions

Gov. Roy Cooper will announce Tuesday an easing of some of the business and social restrictions he's put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus, according to a spokeswoman.

Posted 5:55 p.m. Aug 31, 2020 — Updated 10:48 a.m. Sep 1, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper will announce Tuesday an easing of some of the business and social restrictions he's put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus, according to a spokeswoman.

Spokeswoman Dory MacMillan didn't provide specifics beyond a brief email: "The Governor expects to share information about the next phase of easing restrictions tomorrow, which would take effect later this week."

Sources have told WRAL News that Cooper is likely to allow exercise facilities, including gyms, yoga and dance studios and outdoor playgrounds, to reopen under strict social distancing and reduced capacity guidelines.

Several fitness chains have already planned to reopen on Tuesday, using a loophole in Cooper's previous orders that allowed gyms to serve people who needed to exercise for their health.

NC remains in Phase 2, bars and gyms will stay closed until September 11

Raleigh officials said that, if playgrounds are allowed to reopen, it will take a few days for city crews to check the equipment to make sure everything is safe for children after months sitting idle.

North Carolina has been in Phase 2 of Cooper's three-part plan to reopen businesses and resume social activities during the pandemic since late May. He has pushed back the timetable for moving into the final phase three times since June, saying infections and virus-related hospitalizations and deaths were still trending upward and hadn't stabilized enough.

The latest Phase 2 order runs through Sept. 11.

Fitness chains reopening NC gyms Tuesday

Exercise facilities were initially part of the Phase 2 reopening plan, but Cooper later decided to leave them out, as health officials said they could add to the spread of the virus. People working out are breathing harder, expelling more of the respiratory droplets that carry the virus into the air.

Gyms, bars and entertainment venues, including bowling alleys and wedding reception sites, all have remained closed since late March under state orders. Such businesses have turned to the General Assembly and the courts in their fight to reopen, but Cooper vetoed all bills that sought to undo his shutdown orders, and a group of bowling alleys were the only businesses to win an injunction in court over the shutdown orders.

Another of Cooper's restrictions – banning alcohol sales for on-site consumption after 11 p.m. – was set to expire Monday night. But the Governor's Office said that order would be extended until Oct. 2.

"North Carolina has made good progress stabilizing our COVID-19 numbers, and this order will help us continue it," Cooper said after issuing an executive order to keep the alcohol restriction in place. "Now is the time to continue staying cautious and vigilant as we work to beat this pandemic."

Orders issued by local governments that prohibit alcohol sales before 11 p.m. or have rules stricter than the state order remain in effect, he said.

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