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Gov. Cooper lifts indoor mask mandate, social distancing and capacity rules

Cooper's announcement came with an urgent message for all North Carolinians to get vaccinated if they haven't already.

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday, effective immediately, masks will no longer be required in most indoor settings. Social distancing requirements, mass gathering rules, and capacity restrictions have also been lifted. 

The announcement comes a day after the CDC announced new guidance on masks, saying those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 don't need to wear a mask in most indoor settings. 

“We can take this step today because the science shows our focus on getting people vaccinated is working,” Gov. Cooper said. “But to keep moving forward – and to make sure that we keep saving lives – more people need to get vaccinated.”

Gov. Cooper said cities, local governments, and businesses can still choose to require people to wear masks, but it will no longer be a requirement from the state. State officials said masks will still be strongly recommended for those who haven't been fully vaccinated. 

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the city is now looking at its own COVID-19 rules and will update them to "mirror the governor’s new executive order.” 

There are still some places where masks will still be required in North Carolina - schools, daycares, public transportation, some health facilities, prisons, and homeless shelters. 

State leaders said masks are still required in schools and childcare settings because the vaccine has not yet been approved for younger children. 

Previously, Cooper said if 66% of North Carolinians became partially vaccinated, he would lift the indoor mask mandate. That decision has come earlier than expected, with just a little more than 50% of North Carolinians being partially vaccinated. Cooper said the CDC's latest guidance is what changed things. 

"Throughout this pandemic, we've been following the CDC guidance. Most every time the CDC's guidance changed we would look at what we were doing and follow what the CDC had recommended," Cooper said. "We thought it was important to continue following their guidance and put this executive order in effect today while still hoping to get to two-thirds [vaccinated] as quickly as we can and beyond as quickly as we can."

Cooper said he hopes the lifted restrictions will come as an urgent message to the unvaccinated - get the shot. 

"This just tells people who are not vaccinated that the virus is still out there and these are the people who can transmit the virus to me," Cooper said. 

Not everyone is ready to take the step. The guidelines from the CDC announced Thursday and move by the governor were met with mixed emotions. 

"I'm sure a  lot of people will be happy about it but for me, the mask has worked and I'm going to stick with what's been working," Linda said. 

"How do you know if someones had the shot or not? There's no way of knowing," said Alex Jenkins. 

But others said while they'll keep the mask close by, they're looking forward to taking it off soon. 

"I'm probably always gonna have it with me. I'll probably go out tonight and I'll wear it and I'll probably still wear it for a while," said David Mitchell.

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