Starting Friday, people in North Carolina can go to the gym, museums and take children to playgrounds after the governor loosened coronavirus restrictions.
Under "Phase 2.5" of Gov. Roy Cooper’s reopening plan, museums and aquariums can reopen with 50% capacity. Gyms can open at 30% capacity.
The governor said larger gatherings will be allowed, with up to 25 indoors and 50 people outside.
The loosened restrictions go into effect Friday at 5 p.m. Bars will remain closed and 50% capacity restrictions remain for restuarants.
Public health officials say they will also start allowing outdoor visits at nursing homes on Friday. Skilled nursing facilities have to meet several requirements, including having a testing plan and not having an ongoing outbreak.
"Moving forward doesn't mean letting up," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the state Department of Health and Human Services.
She said fewer people in North Carolina are getting tested, and reminded people that that shoud get a coronavirus test if they feel sick or were exposed to someone who tested positive.
"The pause in Phase 2 was necessary," Cooper said, pointing to stabilizing case rates in North Carolina.
The governor said he is "encouraged but cautious" during a press conference Tuesday.
"Our new cases remain at a level that is too high," Cohen said. She said people still need to wear masks, wash their hands and maintain social distancing.
On Monday the governor extended the order that requires restaurants to cut off alcohol sales at 11 p.m. until Oct. 2.
“North Carolina has made good progress stabilizing our COVID-19 numbers, and this order will help us continue it,” the governor said as he extended the alcohol sales curfew. “Now is the time to continue staying cautious and vigilant as we work to beat this pandemic.”
More than 169,000 people in North Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19, according to DHHS data. More than 2,700 people have died in the state since March.
State public health officials Tuesday reported 2,111 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest daily total reported this month. Officials said another 39 people died from the virus.
Bars and gyms have been closed since the state shut down much of the economy in March to slow the spread of the pandemic.
This week some gyms, including the Planet Fitness chain, said they would reopen after a letter from the state Attorney General’s Office said people could use gyms for medical purposes.
Tuesday morning, bowling alley owners in the state argued before the North Carolina Supreme Court to be allowed to reopen.
Here are the latest changes under Phase 2.5:
- Mass gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors from the current limit of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.
- Playgrounds may open.
- Museums and aquariums may open at 50% capacity.
- Gyms and indoor exercise facilities, such as yoga studios, martial arts, and rock climbing, as well as skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor basketball, volleyball etc., may open at 30% capacity.
- Bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, indoor entertainment facilities, amusement parks, dance halls will remain closed.
- Large venues remain subject to the mass gathering limits.