Weekly Wrap: Reopening, masks, virus testing

The move allows some "non-essential" businesses to reopen for the first time in weeks, provided they adhere to strict cleaning protocols and limit the number of customers inside at any one time to guarantee enough space for customers and staff.

The effort isn't nearly enough for protesters that have gathered in Raleigh weekly over the past month to demand that Gov. Roy Cooper immediately lift his statewide stay-at-home order, which remains in effect at least through May 22.

Sen. Carl Ford, R-Rowan, who is sponsoring a bill that would block any criminal charges against a business that opened in violation of the stay-at-home order, did an online interview with one of the founders of the ReOpenNC movement in which he called for 10,000 or 20,000 people to demonstrate against the order.

Ford also mocked Democratic lawmakers for wearing masks during a recent legislative session. Wearing one has become somewhat of a political statement these days.

Meanwhile, a proposal to make it easier for employees who have contracted COVID-19 to obtain workers compensation is setting up to be a major fight in the legislature. Dozens of House members have signed onto the bill, but major business organizations are pushing back against it.

Also on the virus front, a plan to conduct mass testing of state prison workers fell through after the Department of Public Safety complained about a lack of privacy in lining workers up in prison parking lots for tests. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the State Health Plan and the State Employees Association of North Carolina had worked together on the plan.

Finally, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr continues to garner bad headlines about stock sales shortly before the market cratered over the pandemic. ProPublic reports that Burr's brother-in-law sold a bunch of stock on the same day in February that Burr did.