On Friday, May 14, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper lifted certain restrictions, effective immediately, regarding COVID-19 mask and social distancing protocols in the state of North Carolina and authorizes local governments with the ability to create additional restrictions. These recommendations are a result of the updated mask and distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The changes to mask and distancing restrictions include:
- All capacity and gathering limits have been removed.
- All mandatory social distancing requirements have been removed.
- All indoor mask mandate requirements, in most settings, have been removed - excluding:
- Public Health settings
- Childcare settings
- School settings
- Prisons and Homeless Shelter settings
- Public Transportation settings
The new guidance also outlines that the lifted mask mandate only applies to vaccinated persons. Those who are unvaccinated should continue to wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols.
Regarding county government facilities and county leased property, The County Manager, in his authority to limit access to government properties and under the advisement of our local health officials, will continue to require masks to be worn inside county facilities and inside county leased properties. County Manager Michael Halford noted that the decision was not made lightly, and that county leadership will reassess the decision in two weeks.
Halford stated, “At this time, it is impossible to both quickly and reliably confirm vaccination status. This additional time will allow us to closely observe our local metrics as the community at large begins to unmask. We will be better able to evaluate our internal readiness and potential impacts to services for both mask and capacity reductions. The additional assessment period will allow us time to ensure that we can balance our ongoing responsibilities to continue to safely provide mandated public services”
Those who choose to participate in higher risk activities such as large group gatherings are encouraged to continue to wear masks.
The Guilford County Division of Public Health continues to offer COVID-19 vaccine appointments through May 31. Appointments may be scheduled:
Community members should be reminded that that those aged 12-17 are now eligible for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Guilford County.
