This Friday, October 2nd, North Carolina moves into Phase 3 of its coronavirus response, and movie theaters, bars, and outdoor entertainment venues will be allowed to open at reduced capacity.
Specifically, venues that can hold more than 10-thousand people can open at 7% capacity. But smaller outdoor venues, like Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, are also included in Governor Roy Cooper’s new Executive Order.
"Similar outdoor entertainment venues, like arenas or amphitheaters, may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity or 100 guests – whichever is less. Movie theaters and conference centers may open indoor spaces to 30% of capacity or 100 seated guests – whichever is less."
Bars must be outdoor-only operations at 30% of outdoor capacity – or 100 guests – again – whichever is less. Cooper is also allowing outdoor amusement parks to open at 30% occupancy.
The limits on mass gatherings remains at 25 people indoors and 50 people outoors. And the 11 PM curfew on alcohol sales at restaurants and outdoor bars remains in place.
But all of these changes come with caution and a shorter time frame – just three weeks -- for evaluation.
"Our stability is fragile, and with cooler weather and flu season comes new challenges."
The number of Covid-19 cases has leveled in North Carolina, but the percent of positive cases has ticked up slightly.
