North Carolina Tightens Mask Requirements
On Monday Governor Roy Cooper issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten face-covering requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and runs through 5 p.m. on Friday, December 11.
The order extends Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements and adds a face-covering requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space, even when maintaining six feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when traveling with people outside of the household. Face coverings must be worn outdoors if it is not possible to consistently be physically distant by more than six (6) feet from non-household members.
These requirements shall apply to all people at least five years old unless an exception applies and are recommended for all people over the age of two years old.
Large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet are required to have an employee stationed near entrances to ensure mask-wearing and to implement occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
The order also grants authority for law enforcement officers to cite people who fail to wear face coverings and businesses and organizations that fail to enforce mask-wearing requirements. Police can use trespassing laws to remove people from locations if they don’t mask up when asked.
During the announcement, Cooper said that 10 more counties have moved into the “red” category on the state’s county alert system, meaning that the number of new cases, the percent of positive tests, and the impact of the coronavirus on hospitals together indicate a critical level of COVID-19 spread in those counties. In addition to Davie, surrounding counties in the red zone include Yadkin, Surry, Wilkes, Guilford, and Alamance. Davidson, Forsyth, Stokes, Rockingham, and Randolph counties are in the middle orange zone. You can find the latest updates online at the NC DHHS COIVD-19 Dashboard by clicking here.
No-Cost Testing Available Through November 28
Testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Davie County Community Park, 151 Southwood Drive in Mocksville Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. All testing will be drive-thru and will occur in the parking lot closest to Hwy 601/Salisbury Road.
During the latter part of the week, testing will move to the Smith Grove Community Center, located at 4177 US Hwy 158 in Advance. Drive-thru testing will be held in the circle drive and parking area next door to the Smith Grove Fire Department from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28. Please note: There will be no testing on Thanksgiving Day.
For the latest Davie County, NC COVID-19 updates, including information on where to get free testing, visit their website by clicking here.
