Just 8 days after Governor Cooper initiated ‘phase 1’ of our state’s reopening plan, our state has just witnessed its largest single day increase in COVID-19 Cases.
Between Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th, the total number of cases increased by 853, bring the total number of cases in the state to 17,982.
Mecklenburg County is now reporting 2,504 total cases and 62 deaths from COVID-19, an increase of 65 from yesterday’s total of 2,439.
The NCDHHS released the following video this morning encouraging all NC residents to practice “The 3 Ws”:
Governor Cooper’s ‘phase 1’ order is in effect until 5 pm on Friday, May 22. However, the end of this Order does not necessarily mean the state will move to Phase 2. Phase 2 will only start if data and indicators are in the right place.
Phase 2 includes the following changes:
- Lift Stay At Home order with strong encouragement for vulnerable populations to continue staying at home to stay safe
- Allow limited opening of restaurants, bars, fitness centers, personal care services, and other businesses that can follow safety protocols including the potential need to reduce capacity
- Allow gathering at places such as houses of worship and entertainment venues at reduced capacity
- Increase in number of people allowed at gatherings
- Open public playgrounds
- Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
After 4-6 weeks of phase 2, if everything still looks under control, the state will move to Phase 3, which includes the following changes:
- Lessen restrictions for vulnerable populations with encouragement to continue practicing physical distancing and minimizing exposure to settings where distancing isn’t possible
- Allow increased capacity at restaurants, bars, other businesses, houses of worships, and entertainment venues
- Further increase the number of people allowed at gatherings
- Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
Governor Cooper underscored the need for the testing, tracing and trends to move in the right direction for each of these phases to move forward. If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.
What do you think about the plans?