Staying Ahead of the Curve

North Carolina is taking a multi-phased approach – based on data from testing, tracing and trends and in consultation with members of the business community – to restrictions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and save lives. Learn more below about restrictions currently in place.

Current Restrictions

The table below provides a general summary of restrictions imposed under recent executive orders as well as frequently asked questions and relevant guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional guidance is also available.

  • Under Executive Order 181 and extended under Executive Order 188, North Carolina remains under restrictions, as outlined in the table below, until at least 5 p.m. Jan. 29.
  • Executive Order 183 is in effect until Jan. 31.
Executive Order Summary More Information
Executive Order 183
  • Establishments holding certain permits from the ABC Commission, including restaurants, hotels, private clubs, private bars and some distilleries, are allowed to sell mixed beverages to-go or for delivery. These businesses, delivery service providers that contract with these businesses, and purchasers of mixed beverages to-go must follow the restrictions in the order and any additional restrictions and guidance established by the ABC Commission.
  • The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption must still cease at 9 p.m., but businesses subject to the order may continue to sell mixed beverages for off-site consumption until their business closes and in accordance with other applicable laws and regulations.
Executive Order 181
- English
- Spanish
  • Implements a modified stay at home order from 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
  • Requires nighttime closure from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for certain businesses and activities
  • Prohibits the sale and service of alcohol for onsite consumption from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Executive Order 180
- English
- Spanish
  • Requires face coverings in all public indoor settings, including fitness facilities and restaurants, where non-household members are present
  • Retail business locations with more than 15,000 square feet of interior space must have a worker at each public entrance open to the public to enforce face covering requirements

Executive Order 176
- English
- Spanish
  • Extends the “Phase 3” order (Executive Order 169) 
  • Reduces indoor gathering limits to 10 people

Executive Order 169
- English
- Spanish
  • Revises prohibitions and restrictions that move the state into “Phase 3” measures
Executive Order 153
- English
- Spanish
  • Requires restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption to cease alcohol sales and service each day from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.
Lifting Additional Restrictions

Lifting Additional Restrictions

Depending on state COVID-19 trends, restrictions may be lifted more slowly, or some restrictions may have to be reinstated to ensure the health and safety of North Carolinians. It is important to note:

  • If infections spike or benchmark trends begin to move in the wrong direction, the state may move to a previous phase to protect public health.
  • The best science and data available will be used to make all decisions and continue consultation with business and industry leaders.
Measuring Progress

Measuring Progress

To continue lifting restrictions, North Carolina needs to see progress in key metrics. (View a slideshow summary of trends, as presented Jan. 6, 2021.)

Metric Status (as of Jan. 6, 2021)
COVID-19-Like Syndromic Cases
Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory in COVID-like illness surveillance over 14 days		 North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is increasing.
New Cases
Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over 14 days		 North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is increasing.
Positive Tests as a Percentage of Total Tests
Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory in the percentage of tests returning positive over 14 days		 North Carolina’s trajectory of positive tests as a percentage of total tests is increasing.
Hospitalizations
Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory in hospitalizations over 14 days		 North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing.

Additional information is available on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service's COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard, where key metrics are updated daily, as well as the department's COVID-19 County Alert System Report, which is updated approximately every other week.

Building Future Capabilities

Building Future Capabilities

North Carolina will continue building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread.

Metric Status (as of Jan. 6, 2021)
Laboratory testing Testing is widely available across the state. 
Contact tracing

The state's COVID-19 exposure notification app has been downloaded more than 600,000 times.

Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face shields, gloves, gowns, N95 masks as well as surgical and procedural masks

Calculated based on the average number of requests for the last 14 days compared to the supply that the state has on hand

 Personal protective equipment supplies are stable.

Additional information is available on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service's COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard, where key metrics are updated daily, as well as the department's COVID-19 County Alert System Report, which is updated approximately every other week.

Funding & Relief

Funding & Relief

  • Gov. Roy Cooper on Aug. 26, 2020, shared a recommended budget that outlines how to use North Carolina's remaining $900 million in federal coronavirus funding and make responsible investments in the state's future. Read the proposed budget.
  • Joined by the leaders of the N.C. General Assembly, Gov. Cooper on May 4, 2020, signed two bipartisan COVID-19 relief bills providing more than $1.5 billion in emergency funding for critical expenditures related to public health and safety, educational needs, small business assistance and continuity of state government operations.
Related Resources

Related Resources

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