Gov. Roy Cooper: Virus Business Limits, Most Mask Mandates End In North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday immediately ended the state’s capacity limits on businesses and nearly all the remaining statewide mask-wearing mandates, returning the state to almost normal operations after 15 months marked by COVID-19 lockdowns and limits.

The governor of the nation’s ninth-largest state announced the lifting of gathering limit requirements 2 1/2 weeks before June 1 — the date by which he had previously said he wanted to rid the state of social distancing requirements. Restrictions had been scaled back slowly in recent months.

Cooper said he was prompted to act by continued stable and improving statistical trends for the coronavirus, as well as Thursday’s decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ease mask-wearing guidance indoors for people who are fully vaccinated. The number of daily confirmed cases and COVID-19-related hospitalizations continue to trend downward in North Carolina.

“This is a big step forward in living our lives the way they were before the pandemic. That’s good,” Cooper said at a news conference. He warned that the virus remains in the state and urged all adults to get vaccinated.

Masks will still be required in places like schools and on buses.