Gov. Roy Cooper is lifting the stay-at-home order on Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. and implementing Phase 2 of the reopening process.
Lifting the stay-at-home order doesn’t mean much since under Phase 1 people were allowed to leave their homes for nonessential purposes.
But one huge difference in Phase 2 is in Section 4 of the order, which states, “Worship, religious, and spiritual gatherings, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies and other activities constituting the exercise of First Amendment rights are exempt from all the requirements of this Executive Order.”
One of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment is “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” So not only has Cooper finally recognized the people’s right to practice their religion, the right of the people to gather and protest against these executive orders has finally been recognized.
Phase 2 allows restaurants, but not bars, to reopen under some stringent guidelines. The major restriction and the one that reportedly will result in many restaurants deciding not to open is that restaurants can only operate at 50 percent of their stated fire capacity, and only at 50 percent if it is possible to arrange all the tables so that the customers at one table are at least six feet from customers at another table.
The Greensboro City Council on Tuesday, May 19 discussed allowing restaurants greater flexibility in outdoor dining, so that restaurants could make up for some of the seating they were losing inside. But Cooper’s executive order 141 that establishes the Phase 2 criteria states, “Limit customers in indoor and outdoor seating areas to Emergency Maximum Occupancy” and that is defined as “fifty percent (50%) of stated fire capacity (or, for spaces without a stated fire capacity, no more than 12 customers for every one thousand (1000) square feet of the location’s total square footage.”
Retail establishments are still limited to 50 percent of their stated fire capacity, plus the restrictions on spacing and sanitation.
Barbershops, hair and nail salons and tattoo parlors may open at 50 percent capacity and workers are required to wear facemasks within six feet of another person.
Indoor and outdoor pools may open again, limited to 50 percent capacity.
Childcare facilities may open to serve all children.
Day camps and overnight camps may open with some restrictions.
Entertainment, fitness facilities and playgrounds remain closed.
Gotta love the fact that Lowes Improvement and Home Depot and Walmart can open freely but fitness centers can not. We have moved equipment to 10 ft separations, closed exercise studios and removed any leisure seating. But still can not open except…..our pool. I guess no one going swimming could ever possibly be infected.
What do you expect. Herr Cooper does not want to give up the power he’s managed to grab for himself and his party. As for your examples they answer the question. Big box stores…lots of financial resources=political pull.
God forbid the peons be allowed to think and decide for themselves.
Well the bar need to be reopened soon because i do security at the door. I don’t get the unemployment benefits from it. And I have another job as a delivery driver. But when child support take have off your money plus your Stimulate check. How do they expect for you to Survive when there just a little money come in. Hell I pay up all my Unpaid child support and but the court want open they are still take my money. Plus my taxes. But when you call the IRS they don’t know anything or when you call child support they don’t know anything. So I need to go back to work where I make most of my money. To pay my bills. Since they closed the bars I have lost thousands of dollars since March 13, 2020. Now the bartender are getting this six hundred dollars a week. So they are great with it. I just not. But I’m just a lil fish in the ocean of the world. Have a great day Sir.
Right on! I might suggest that we are all responsible for own actions, No one owes me anything. I shift for myself, all free people do.