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 195 , North Carolina remains under restrictions, some of which have been cautiously lifted under the state's phased "dimmer switch" approach, as outlined in the table below, until at least 5 p.m. March 26, 2021.
- Executive Order 183 (extended under Executive Order 190) is in effect until at least March 31, 2021.
Executive Order | Summary | More Information |
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Executive Order 195 |
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Extended under Executive Order 190 |
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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
To continue lifting restrictions, North Carolina needs to see progress in key metrics. (View a slideshow summary of trends, as presented Feb. 24, 2021.)
Metric | Status (as of Feb. 24, 2021) |
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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 decreasing. |
New Cases Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over 14 days |
North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is decreasing. |
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 decreasing. |
Hospitalizations Sustained leveling or decreased trajectory in hospitalizations over 14 days |
North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is decreasing. |
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
North Carolina will continue building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread.
Metric | Status (as of Feb. 24, 2021) |
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Laboratory testing | Testing is widely available across the state. |
Contact tracing |
The state's COVID-19 exposure notification app has been downloaded more than 716,600 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.
Related Resources
Legislation
- Senate Bill 36 (Signed Feb. 10, 2021)
- Senate Bill 704 (Signed May 4, 2020)
- House Bill 1043 (Signed May 4, 2020)
Documents
- Governor's FY 2020-21 Supplemental Budget Recommendations (Feb. 4, 2021)
- Governor's FY 2020-21 Budget Recommendations (Aug. 26, 2020)
- Governor's Full Budget Recommendation Money Report (April 24, 2020)
- Governor's Budget Recommendation Provision List (April 24, 2020)
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