NC Governor Lifts Most Mask Mandates, Social Distancing And Capacity Limits

While this is very good news, it rather exposes something interesting

NC will no longer require mask, social distancing in most places

COVID dancing penguinsAbout six weeks shy of a year behind face coverings, North Carolinians have more places where they can shed the mask after Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Friday that the state would no longer require masks and social distancing.

Cooper put the state under that mandate on June 24, 2020, with the state’s daily average of new coronavirus cases at about 1,300. Almost a year later and after a January peak of 8,700 new cases per day, North Carolina is back to an average of 1,300 new cases per day.

North Carolina’s change to the mask mandate falls in line with updated guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control on Thursday. The state will still require mask use by all people in public schools, healthcare settings, in childcare, on public transit and in prisons.

All current capacity restrictions in indoor spaces have also been lifted. (snip)

Cooper had originally planned to lift the statewide mask mandate on June 1 – or after two-thirds of adults statewide had at least one COVID shot. As of Friday, more than 50% of adults in the state have received at least one dose of vaccine. More than 35% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated.

So, even though the daily cases is the same as when Cooper enacted the mask mandate, he removed it? What’s different now? Especially since his plan had been to wait for 66% with one vaccination shot (which isn’t really helpful). Could it be it was a political decision back last year? I’ll give Cooper the benefit of the doubt for back then, since he really hasn’t been horrible and dictatorial like many a Democratic governor/mayor throughout this. But, this sure looks like a political decision now. My personal theory is that it is meant to try and stimulate NC’s economy, especially after the pipeline disaster (which is still going on, because foolish people are freaking out and getting gas when they do not need it yet). Why else remove all three?

But, masks being gone is a good thing. I was never a fan, since they enticed people to get too close, and even touch people. Businesses, however, are allowed to keep their own mandates if they choose

(WRAL) After the governor’s announcement, O2 Fitness in Raleigh dropped their pandemic restrictions. This comes as welcome news to gym members like Emily Van Schagen.

YMCA of the Triangle also announced they would be dropping their mask requirement on Friday. The YMCA has also asked that individuals who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing masks.

Lynn Minges, president of NC’s Restaurant and Lodging Association, said Friday’s announcement was good news for business owners.This year has been tough on the restaurant industry, and we’ve had to say goodbye to many local restaurants.

Minges said many businesses will likely still encourage their employees to wear masks. Most likely larger brands, like McDonald’s, will still require masks.

Many supermarkets and businesses said they will require masks, and not just in NC, but states without mandates and are lifting them. Some, like Walmart, say they will only require for the unvaccinated. How will you tell? Will I have to show my vax card, either the paper version or the photos I took? The Washington Post is Very Upset that the CDC lifted their mandate. Which has no force of law, but, is swaying many states (this map doesn’t include the change to NC)

Politics. But, I’ll take it. Though I think it was a mistake to remove distancing. That, washing hands, not touching your face, and not touching other people were probably the smartest ideas.

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28 Responses to “NC Governor Lifts Most Mask Mandates, Social Distancing And Capacity Limits”

  1. Zachriel says:

    William Teach: So, even though the daily cases is the same as when Cooper enacted the mask mandate, he removed it? What’s different now?

    Vaccinations.

    William Teach: try and stimulate NC’s economy

    Yes, getting people back to work is an important consideration.

  2. Dana says:

    We were told that when Texas lifted its mask mandate on March 10th, the whole state would get infected and die. The actual result was that cases continued to drop, and were lower per capita than many states which had retained mask mandates and had higher vaccination levels.

    Texas currently has the lowest moving seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases since June of 2020, that average having dropped precipitously since the mask mandate ended. Texas, with a seven-day moving average of 2651 new COVID cases per day, and a population of 29.15 million, has a new case rate of 9.09 new cases per 100,000 population. Texas has no mask mandate and few restrictions. Texas has 29% of the adult populate fully vaccinated, and 39% have received first shot. Kentucky, with a moving average of 581 and a population of 4048 million, is seeing new cases at a rate of 12.97 per 100,000, despite having mask mandate, more restrictions, and a higher percentage of population vaccinated, 33% fully vaccinated and 42% having received one dose. Texas has slightly higher population density, 109.9 per mi² compared to Kentucky’s 107.4 per mi². Despite what the so-called experts claimed, ending the mask mandate in Texas did not lead to unparalleled death and disease. Based on empirical evidence, the capacity restrictions and mask mandates had no positive effect on infection rate.

    The scientific method is to produce an hypothesis, and then test it to see if it is true. Actual real world testing of the restrictions has not borne out the hypothesis that our freedoms needed to be restricted, our constitutional rights needed to be violated.

    What about Michigan? Governor Gretchen Whitless Whitmer has imposed some of the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in the nation. On May 6, the same date as the figures reported above for Texas and Kentucky, Michigan’s seven-day moving average was 3,317 new cases per day, 666 more per day than Texas’ 2,651. Yet Texas has almost thrice Michigan’s population of 9,966,555 people. Where Texas is seeing 9.09 new cases per day per 100,000 population, Michigan’s rate is 33.28 per 100,000, more than thrice that of the Lone Star State. Michigan has seen 35% of its adult population fully vaccinated, and 44% have received their first, dose, a rate higher than that in Texas, and even slightly higher than in the Bluegrass State. Michigan does have a significantly higher population density of 174 per mi².

  3. Dana says:

    Reichsstatthalter Andy Beshear (NSDAP-KY), who vetoed a bill which would have allowed Kentucky business to reopen, despite his executive orders, as long as they followed the CDC guidelines, immediately followed the CDC guideline changes. The next day, Mrs Pico and I went to an outdoor lunch at Backstreet Grub, and she noted that no one was wearing a mask, saying, “I’ll bet that 95% of these people haven’t been vaccinated.”

    Technically, I wasn’t “fully vaccinated,” because while I’ve had both doses, it won’t be 14 days since my last dose until this coming Wednesday. But I’ve never worn a mask outdoors.

    Now the Reichsstatthalter has said that he will drop the mask mandate for everyone, including those not vaccinated, on June 11th. His previous statements, that he’d only drop restrictions once 2.5 million Kentuckians were vaccinated, have fallen by the wayside, not because of Teh Science, but because of political considerations. That’s obvious now, but it was the case all along. There’s no ‘anti-vaccine passport’ legislation in Kentucky, and with the General Assembly not in session, such cannot be passed, but the Reichsstatthalter knows that if he tried to impose that by executive order the people would rebel.

    To me, it has always been more important to fight tyranny than it was to fight the virus.

  4. Dana says:

    From The New York Times:

    When federal health officials said on Thursday that fully vaccinated Americans no longer needed to wear masks in most places, it came as a surprise to many people in public health. It also was a stark contrast with the views of a large majority of epidemiologists surveyed in the last two weeks by The New York Times.

    In the informal survey, 80 percent said they thought Americans would need to wear masks in public indoor places for at least another year. Just 5 percent said people would no longer need to wear masks indoors by this summer.

    In large crowds outdoors, like at a concert or protest, 88 percent of the epidemiologists said it was necessary even for fully vaccinated people to wear masks. . . . .

    They acknowledged that many Americans would not want to continue to wear masks — and that many have already stopped.

    Wearing masks “will be a need, which is a very different question than how long will it continue to occur,” said Sophia K., an epidemiologist at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. “I expect that most people will refuse to wear masks, even in public, by the end of 2021, whether there is still a pandemic or not.”

  5. Hairy says:

    Teach you are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts
    One shot of Modena 80% effective against covid

    • Kye says:

      So then one shot of Modena (which I currently have) is an 80% vaccine? How are the doomed 20% determined?

      BTW, where did you gather that gem of science?

      • Elwood P. Dowd says:

        KEY POINTS

        A single dose of Pfizer’s or Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine was 80% effective in preventing infections, according to a new CDC study.

        Two doses are better than one, the CDC said, adding that the vaccines’ effectiveness jumped to 90% two weeks after the second dose.

        https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/29/cdc-study-shows-single-dose-of-pfizer-or-moderna-covid-vaccines-was-80percent-effective.html

        • Dana says:

          Obvious question: if a single dose of Moderna or Pfizer yields an 80% effectiveness rate, while the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine yields about a 72% effectiveness rate, why are the CDC considering someone “fully vaccinated” if he is 14 days past his second dose of Pfizer or Moderna (purportedly around 96% effective), and 14 days past his only dose of J&J?

          This is clearly politics, not science.

          • Zachriel says:

            Dana: if a single dose of Moderna or Pfizer yields an 80% effectiveness rate, while the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine yields about a 72% effectiveness rate, why are the CDC considering someone “fully vaccinated” if he is 14 days past his second dose of Pfizer or Moderna (purportedly around 96% effective), and 14 days past his only dose of J&J?

            That’s the protocol the different manufacturers developed and tested, and the data is still incomplete. There was no way to know in advance exactly how effective a particular vaccine might be. Newer data has led to some countries delaying the second shot of the Pfizer vaccine so as to prioritize distribution of the first shot.

            https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/02/coronavirus-uk-charts-show-how-pfizers-vaccine-is-working.html

          • Elwood P. Dowd says:

            dana,

            Policies, even policies based on sound science, are political. Scientists do not create policy and laws, our elected officials do. Public health officials create guidelines and recommendations.

            The objective is to vaccinate as many Americans as possible as quickly as possible to reach some level of societal “normalcy” and importantly, to avoid the spread of new viral variants.

          • drowningpuppies says:

            Rimjob (dipshit that he is): The objective is to vaccinate as many Americans as possible as quickly as possible…

            Yet according to Congressional testimony around 50% of CDC employees have refused to be vaccinated so far.

            Wonder why. https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_scratch.gif

            #BelieveTheLie
            BWAHA! Lolgfy https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

  6. Hairy says:

    Kye
    I found that figure of 80% by using this thing called “google”
    Instead of looking silly by asking others how to find something easily verifiable perhaps first you should look yourself
    However, if you really do need help try Forbes.com May 14,
    2021
    Of course there are many other posts on the CDC findings
    I really thought you might be able to verify this yourself I am a bit disappointed

  7. Est1950 says:

    I know 100’s of doctors and scientists that are pale when they talk about the Vaccines and Covid-19.

    Why?

    They understand something. The vaccine will NOT prevent you from getting Covid but rather drastically reduce the symptoms to that of a bad cold or a bad 24 hour virus that lasts 5-10 days.

    In other words. The new normal for the world is a virulent COLD that you might catch 2-3-4 times per year despite being vaccinated.

    I know many, many doctors that are refusing to give their own families the vaccine. Reason? there is a 10-15 percent chance it does not PREVENT covid and there is emerging research to suggest that the mRNA vaccines are causing damage to the bodies.

    IE people without Psoriasis are developing it. People are getting vascular damage. There is inconclusive evidence that the vaccines causes sterility in women.

    The problem is simple. The Vaccine DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING the virus. A real, real problem for the world. A real problem.

    Six people hospitalized with Indian Covid after having vaccine

    Apr 19, 2021 · Moderna’s latest analysis of its vaccine clinical trial data shows 900 people got COVID after being vaccinated, consistent with 90% or more efficacy for the vaccine.

    Apr 08, 2021 · The North Dakota Department of Health reports cases of people catching COVID and being hospitalized even after they are fully vaccinated.

    There is a very small chance that you could still get COVID, and now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information detailing just how common that is. “Like is seen with other vaccines, we expect thousands of vaccine breakthrough cases will occur even though the vaccine is working as expected,” the CDC told Best Life in a statement.

    The Joe Biden Main Stream Conspiracy Networks will not tell you these things, because Joe Biden/Democrats now owns the Pandemic. But they sure would have shouted it from the roof tops had Trump been sworn in for a second term.

    HEADLINES…..TRUMPS LIGHT SPEED….MASSIVE FAILURE!!!!

    • Zachriel says:

      Est1950: there is emerging research to suggest that the mRNA vaccines are causing damage to the bodies.

      Can you provide a citation to support your claim?

      Est1950: The Joe Biden Main Stream Conspiracy Networks will not tell you these things

      What do you think 95% effective means?

      Est1950: Joe Biden/Democrats now owns the Pandemic

      New cases (7-day moving average)
      January 20: 194 thousand
      May 15: 33 thousand

      New daily deaths (7-day moving average)
      January 20: 3196
      May 15: 613

      Vaccinations (at least one dose)
      January 20: 4.27%
      May 15: 46.7%

    • Elwood P. Dowd says:

      Est types: The vaccine will NOT prevent you from getting Covid but rather drastically reduce the symptoms to that of a bad cold or a bad 24 hour virus that lasts 5-10 days.

      Care to back that up? Vaccines are not shields that prevent virus exposure. The antibodies (and cell mediated immunity) resulting from vaccination greatly reduce the likelihood of the virus reproducing inside cells.

      Est types: I know many, many doctors that are refusing to give their own families the vaccine. Reason? there is a 10-15 percent chance it does not PREVENT covid and there is emerging research to suggest that the mRNA vaccines are causing damage to the bodies.

      Care to back either either statement? Any evidence that doctors are refusing vaccinations for themselves or their families? Would you cite the research showing the risks of mRNA vaccines?

      Est types: Six people hospitalized with Indian Covid after having vaccine.

      So? Out of how many infected people without vaccine? The article said 1,313 people.

      Do you have an overall point to make? It seems as you’re hinting that the trump vaccines are not effective, which is untrue.

      No vaccine is 100% effective nor were they claimed to be. Do you really think it’s a coincidence that infections are plummeting as vaccinations are increasing. Reminds us of Tim McCarver’s joke about Bob Gibson, “Gibson was the luckiest pitcher ever, every time he pitched he caught the other team in a slump”.

      • drowningpuppies says:

        Wonder if Rimjob (dipshit that he is) cares to explain why according to recent congressional testimony that around 50% of the CDC employees refused to be vaccinated.

        #BelieveTheLie
        Bwaha! Lolgf https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

        • Elwood P. Dowd says:

          Lil Handjob (turd that he is) didn’t fall far from Big Handjob’s (turd that HE is) a-hole, did he? Maybe Lil Handjob can cite a credible source for his claim that “around 50% of the CDC employees refused to be vaccinated”.

          • drowningpuppies says:

            Settle down Rimjob (dipshit that you are) doesn’t quite understand the concept of paraphrasing the answers by Fauci and two others who kinda “answered” Senator Burr’s direct questioning the other day.

            If you weren’t so deranged you might look it up yourself, ya lazy bastard.

            #BelieveTheLie
            Bwaha! Lolgfy https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

  8. drowningpuppies says:

    Almost half of the NIH, CDC, and FDA employees who were offered the Vaccine early this year opted out.

    Found it yet, Rimjob (dipshit that you are)?
    Are you even looking? https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_wink.gif

    #BelieveTheLie
    Bwaha! Lolgf https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

    • Elwood P. Dowd says:

      Good job, Teach’s Inflamed Pustulent Hemorrhoid. Where did you find this quote

      We see that Dr Fauci said about 60% of NIAID were vaccinated and Drs Marks (FDA) and Walensky (CDC) said about 50%. Then the right-wing-o-sphere bullshit machine got rolling! Suddenly half were REFUSING the vaccines!

      https://welovetrump.com/2021/05/15/half-of-cdc-nih-and-fda-employees-refused-the-experimental-covid-19-jabs/

      Bunch of fukking liars.

      • Dana says:

        As vaccination rates have dropped, and states are now offering incentives for people to take the vaccines, and there are no longer any waiting lines for them, if you haven’t at least started the process of getting vaccinated, you are actively declining it.

        • Elwood P. Dowd says:

          Teach’s Pustulent Hemorrhoid is acting up again. It never was a very good thinker.

          The estimates may be right, but the motivation is pure conjecture.

      • drowningpuppies says:

        Rimjob, dipshit that he is, now claims the estimates given in sworn testimony by Fauci and crew is a f*cking lie.

        Get a grip, kid. You’re losing it.

        #BelieveTheLie
        Bwaha! Lolgf https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

  9. drowningpuppies says:

    But ignoring the confused Rimjob (dipshit that he is) for the moment, the real question should be why such a high percentage (40 to 50%) of these so-called health professionals offering guidance to the public are NOT fully vaccinated themselves.

    Think about it. https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_scratch.gif

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1393022731373973504

    #BelieveTheLie
    Bwaha! Lolgf https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

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