UPDATED January 27th, 2021 –  Governor Roy Cooper announced in a press conference that he is extending the current modified “Stay at Home” order until February 28th. Cooper said, “We are encouraged to see that our COVID numbers have stabilized in recent days, which is good, but the reality is that they are still high and that too many people are still falling seriously ill and dying.”  The Order also extends the current capacity limitations, indoor and outdoor gathering limits, and other public health restrictions put in place under previous executive orders. For FAQ regarding the latest Executive Order, Click Here.

What’s new under this order? 

The following Phase 3 restrictions remain in place: 

• North Carolina’s indoor mass gathering limit remains at ten (10) individuals for indoor settings and fifty (50) individuals for outdoor settings.
• A face covering is still required in all public indoor settings if there are non- household members present, regardless of the individual’s ability to maintain social distance.

State and public health officials will continue watching key COVID-19 metrics over the next several weeks to determine if any further restrictions are necessary during this spike in positive cases. Currently, Mecklenburg and Union County are designated as “RED/CRITICAL” in Community Spread per the COVID-19 County Alert System. 

The state’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable. The Matthews Chamber has compiled this PPE Resource List to aid North Carolina business owners in procuring masks and other protective equipment for workers and patrons. We have also issued our Smart Restart Playbook, a free 64-page PDF that offers industry-by-industry guidance for businesses re-opening. Download a copy here.

For more information, visit the Governor’s website and the NC Department of Health & Human Services’ Covid-19 Dashboard.