Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m., some of the more confusing aspects of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order ended with the implementation of Phase 1 of the reopening process.
According to the statewide stay-at-home order that went into effect on March 30, businesses that weren’t specifically closed, like bars, theaters and dining-in restaurants, could remain open as long as they followed the social distancing guidelines.
But the stay-at-home order also made it illegal for anyone to travel to these retail businesses because buying furniture, clothing, books and other such items were deemed non-essential. So in theory, a clothing store could be open under the stay-at-home order but anyone who traveled to the store to buy an article of clothing was violating the stay-at-home order and could be charged with a misdemeanor.
What Phase 1 of relaxing the stay-at-home order does is not allow those stores to open, which was already allowed, but allow customers to travel to those stores without violating the order. In other words, it gives those stores a reason to open for business.
Another confusing aspect of the stay-at-home order that has been resolved with Phase 1 is that it was legal for Walmart, Target, Lowe’s or any of the big box stores that sold groceries or hardware to sell anything in the store to a customer whether it was essential or not. Technically, people could only travel to the store to buy essential items, such as groceries or hardware, but once in the store they could buy what they wanted.
It is also worth noting that Phase 1 only recommends, it does not require that people wear face masks when in public. The recommendation actually has the same status as the recommendations that people stay six feet apart, carry hand sanitizer, wash their hands, clean high-touch surfaces and stay at home if sick.
Houses of worship can hold outdoor services, but indoors regardless of the size of the building gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people except for funerals, which are limited to 50 people.
They can’t even spell “please” correctly.
I really like how the Payroll Protection Plan is working out! Sarcastic. Those that got it are now screaming they did not know that 75% of that money must go to payroll. NOW, Congress is going to look at that restriction. Really? You took out a loan called Payroll Protection and you did not know that it HAD to go to payroll? I take it the bank didn’t tell you either? Stop your crying. Once I looked at the requirements for the PPP, I knew it was not what I needed for my small business. I needed help with the overhead, ie: rent and bills. I moved along to an SBA loan which ran out of money and I’ve not seen a dime and you think Congress should rewrite the acquirements now that you have already received the loan? If they do, which that group could totally do up there on that hill, only proves: if you want fair, go to the State Fair!
I guess I should get sick at a funeral, if it were mine. (some of you are hoping for this, so hang on to that thought).
Phase 1 and the Stay At Home order did not give citizens protection from NC existing law from 1953 that forbid wearing any mask in public, except during authorized parades by recognized groups. The state Senate Bill 704 was finally signed by Cooper, but the mask exemption expires 1st of August 2020. Hope we all be immune by then!