Covid-19

State’s trends continue to move in the right direction and key indicators used to inform decisions throughout the pandemic remain stable

RALEIGH: As North Carolina’s trends continue to show improvement and vaccine distribution increases with 31.7% of North Carolinians over 18 having received at least one dose of vaccine, Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the state will continue to ease some COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order No. 204 will take effect March 26 at 5 pm is set to expire April 30 at 5 pm. The state’s general mask mandate remains in effect.

“Our fast and fair vaccine distribution and our sustained progress with the COVID-19 metrics tell us we can move forward with easing restrictions if we do it safely,” said Governor Cooper.

“We are in a promising place. With North Carolina’s COVID-19 key metrics improving and vaccinations increasing, we can responsibly use our dimmer switch approach to easing restrictions guided by science and data,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.

Executive Order No. 204 has three general categories of occupancy restrictions: up to 100 percent capacity, 75 percent capacity, and 50 percent capacity. All businesses must continue to maintain the 6 feet of distance requirement between patrons and implement other safety protocols as they expand their capacity.

Executive Order No. 204 will also increase mass gathering limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 25 to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 50 to 100. This Order also fully lifts the restriction on the late-night sale and service of alcoholic beverages on bars, restaurants, and other establishments.

Indoors and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
• Museums and Aquariums
• Retail Businesses
• Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors

Indoors up to 75% and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
• Restaurants
• Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries
• Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing)
• Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, fitness centers)
• Pools
• Amusement Parks

Indoors and Outdoors up to 50% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
• Bars
• Movie Theaters*
• Gaming Facilities*
• Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
• Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
• Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances
• Sports Arenas and Fields (includes professional, collegiate, and amateur

*Movie theaters and gaming facilities may operate at up to 75% capacity outdoors.

Activities and settings are lower risk when they involve interacting with fewer people, being outside, keeping masks on the entire time, keeping interactions with people short (under 15 minutes), staying physically distant, and avoiding singing, yelling, and cheering, according to public health officials.

North Carolina is continuing to see fast and fair vaccine distribution. To date, the state has administered over 4.1 million doses. Over 31.7 percent of people 18 and up have received at least one dose, and 18.8 percent are fully vaccinated. Vaccine equity efforts remain a priority, with 18 percent of first doses administered to Black North Carolinians and 8 percent to members of the LatinX community last week.

DHHS also released updates to the K-12 guidance. Schools should return to in-person instruction to the fullest extent possible while following all public health protocols in the StrongSchoolsNC Toolkit. This update aligns with Session Law 2021-4, which Governor Cooper and bipartisan legislative leadership worked on together. Plan A has already been widely adopted across the state as districts, educators and support staff have worked hard to get students back in the classroom. The updated Toolkit no longer requires schools to do daily temperature checks and symptom screenings.

Safety protocols such as masks and cleaning of high traffic areas are still required. Schools are also highly encouraged to conduct free screening testing as recommended by the CDC. (Read the updated Toolkit)

State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to have a mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often.

Read Executive Order No. 204.

Read Frequently Asked Questions.

View the slides from today’s briefing.

Updated  4:30 p.m. Appointments for Thursday at the Hampstead Annex have been filled. Watch this website and our Facebook page for appointments next week from the Pender County Health Department.

Appointments made today are for Thursday, March 25 at the Hampstead Annex

PENDER COUNTY – COVID-19 Vaccination appointments are NOW being accepted for Thursday, March 25, at the Hampstead Annex, 15060 US Hwy. 17.

Vaccinations are available to Group 4 which includes anyone 18-64 years old with one or more high-risk medical conditions for severe disease from COVID-19, people living in close group settings, and essential workers.

Citizens under the age of 64 with one or more high-risk medical conditions, essential workers, residents ages 65 and older, and health care workers may schedule an appointment online on the county’s website, pendercountync.gov, and click on the red banner across the screen.

Pender County Health Department continues to accept appointments from citizens in Groups, 1, 2, and 3 in addition to Group 4.

If registering online, the Pender County website is best viewed in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox and NOT Internet Explorer.

Citizens without the ability to make an appointment online can call 910-663-4200 for assistance.

There is limited vaccine available.

If citizens miss this opportunity to be vaccinated, continue to monitor the county’s website, Pender County’s Facebook page, and the local news for future vaccine appointments.

Update: 1:15 p.m. All appointments are filled for Tuesday. Please stay tuned for appointment availability in Hampstead.

PENDER COUNTY – COVID-19 Vaccination appointments are NOW being accepted for Tuesday, March 23, at the Pender County Health Department, 803 S. Walker St., Burgaw.

Vaccinations are available to Group 4 which includes anyone 16-64 years old with one or more high-risk medical conditions for severe disease from COVID-19, people living in close group settings, and essential workers.

Citizens under the age of 64 with one or more high-risk medical conditions, essential workers, residents ages 65 and older, and health care workers may schedule an appointment online on the county’s website, pendercountync.gov, and click on the red banner across the screen.

Pender County Health Department continues to accept appointments from citizens in Groups, 1, 2, and 3 in addition to Group 4.

If registering online, the Pender County website is best viewed in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox and NOT Internet Explorer.

Citizens without the ability to make an appointment online can call 910-663-4200 for assistance.

There is limited vaccine available.

If citizens miss this opportunity to be vaccinated, continue to monitor the county’s website, Pender County’s Facebook page, and the local news for future vaccine appointments.

PENDER COUNTY – COVID-19 Vaccination appointments are NOW being accepted for Thursday, March 18, at the Hampstead Annex, 15060 US Hwy. 17.

Vaccinations are available to essential workers who meet the Group 3 priority criteria. Frontline essential workers are people who must be in-person at their place of work and work in one of these eight essential sectors: critical manufacturing, education, essential goods, food and agriculture, government and community services, health care and public health, public safety, and transportation.

Essential workers, residents ages 65 and older, and health care workers may schedule an appointment online on the county’s website, pendercountync.gov, and click on the red banner across the screen.  The Pender County website is best viewed in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox and NOT Internet Explorer.

Citizens without the ability to make an appointment online can call 910-663-4200 for assistance.

There is limited vaccine available.

If citizens miss this opportunity to be vaccinated, continue to monitor the county’s website, Pender County’s Facebook page, and the local news for future vaccine appointments.

PENDER COUNTY – COVID-19 Vaccination appointments are NOW being accepted for Tuesday, March 16, at the Pender County Health Department, 803 S. Walker St. in Burgaw.

Vaccinations are available to essential workers who meet the Group 3 priority criteria. Frontline essential workers are people who must be in-person at their place of work and work in one of these eight essential sectors: critical manufacturing, education, essential goods, food and agriculture, government and community services, health care and public health, public safety and transportation.

Essential workers, residents ages 65 and older, and health care workers may schedule an appointment online on the county’s website, pendercountync.gov, and click on the red banner across the screen.  The Pender County website is best viewed in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox and NOT Internet Explorer.

Citizens without the ability to make an appointment online can call 910-663-4200 for assistance.

There is limited vaccine available.

If citizens miss this opportunity to be vaccinated, continue to monitor the county’s website, Pender County’s Facebook page, and the local news for future vaccine appointments.