The year of the coronavirus is a strange one and it appears that this year June 26 comes on Friday, Oct. 2.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday, Sept. 30 that the state would be moving into Phase 3 of his slow, slower, slowest reopening plan at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. Under the original slow reopening plan Cooper had said Phase 3 would begin on June 26.
Phase 3 doesn’t make many changes to businesses that were allowed to open under Phase 2 or Phase 2.5, but it does allow bars, which have now been completely closed for about six months, to kinda sorta reopen.
Bars can only serve customers outside and at 30 percent of the outdoor seating capacity. Restaurants, breweries, brewpubs, taprooms, wineries and distilleries are allowed to serve alcoholic beverages indoors at 50 percent of their occupancy. But bars cannot serve anyone inside and are restricted to 30 percent of outdoor capacity. This is all according to Cooper based on “the science, the data and the facts,” so somewhere there must be some science, data and facts that prove someone drinking an alcoholic beverage at a bar is far more likely to contract COVID-19 than someone drinking an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant, brewery, brewpub, taproom, winery or distillery.
One thing that is consistent is that alcoholic beverages cannot be served after 11 p.m.
If this were actually June 26, allowing bars to open for outdoor service only might make sense, but it is October. Not many people want to be sitting around outside when its 40 degrees, even if it’s not raining.
Movie theaters, entertainment spaces and amusement parks can open at 30 percent capacity with the odd twist that amusement parks can’t open any indoor rides at all.
Outdoor venues with a capacity of more than 10,000 can open at 7 percent, while smaller outdoor venues can open at 30 percent or 100 guests, whichever is less.
The limits for mass gatherings that aren’t at a venue remain the same with 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
The Phase 3 plan is supposed to stay into effect until Oct. 23, but this year Oct. 23 may come on Nov. 26 or Dec. 14.
Dictator and President for Life Roy Edi Amen DaDa Cooper has spoken.
We the unwashed ignorant masses, minus DaDa’s todies and minions, are to be magnanimously granted additional freedoms by our omnipotent Lord and Master DaDa for as long as he deems proper.
As always he reserves the right, through supreme power granted to himself, to revoke these generously granted freedoms at his whim using his version of “science” as the reason, in order to make it look like he knows what’s best for us peons
November 3rd can’t get here quick enough.
I suspect the science will say that at 5 PM on November 4th all is now okay. Just saying……
Just saying Trump now has covid!
The only science I see being referenced here is political science.
I truly hope and prey that the masses see the light on November 3. This cannot be the new normal, because this is not normal at all. VOTE THIS BUFFOON OUT!!!!
Purely political move here. Polls not looking good governor?
All this stuff is arbitrary.
For the umpty-umpth time, make haste to the polls and Dump the Dicktater.
Yep, come November 4 covid goes away! Or at least a version of it known as democrat governor virus. He’s a bobble headed egotistical pandering idiot.
I’m certain Herr Cooper will move to open EVERYTHING on or around November 4.
See you at the ballot box.
A report today from the North Carolina Bar Owners Association stated that there are approximately 15 bars (Not 15%) in North Carolina that feel it would be worthwhile to open up under the restrictions of Cooper. Approximately 98% of the bars in the state have a very small outside area where customers could be served. Many have less than 500 square feet. Most have much less. At 500 square feet, a bar could accomodate approximately 15 customers. If each customer spent $25.00, there would not be enough revenue to pay the utilities and bartender, so they would still be losing money to open up. I sense a lawsuit coming. It has been rumored recently, but the Association held off on the promise that Cooper would open under reasonable restrictions. Since he did not, and since he has not given any hope for them for the next 30 days, I think a court visit is in the wind.
The estimable, slippery, and negative “COOP” now finds himself only slightly below the top rung of disappointing Governors in the Country. That loathsome list is currently led by GAVIN “pretty boy” NEWSOM in California, with a 7-8 way tie for second place.
No way this individual gets my vote for a second term. Absolutely NO WAY …
Oh, bliss.
Look at the positive side of this folks. Ol’ Roy will have everything opened up just in time for his retirement. We can all help him celebrate that milestone!
I have to wonder how an amusement park owner would want to re-open at 30% capacity and no inside rides. Doesn’t seem financially feasible to open the doors since you probably wouldn’t cover operating expenses. Guess as a small business owner I operate in a different world than our political royalty who don’t have to be concerned with bothersome little details like break even margins or covering your operating expenses. They have an endless supply of other people’s money.
Looks like you’re having symptoms of withdrawal, John. Still confused why this isn’t listed as opinion.
Alan, Nov. 3 can’t come soon enough? Why’s that? Looking for your proud boo’s marching orders to start the next war like you’ve been evangelizing? Makes sense now. Bang bang, buddy!
Blast… HE’S ON TO US GUYS!!!