North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today that he is extending his executive mask mandate. The mandate requires people to wear masks in any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance, including: wearing masks in gyms when exercising, schools (both public and private), and public or private transportation (such as ride-shares, cabs, and shuttles – not while driving alone or with household members).
The executive order includes the authority for law enforcement to site people who do not wear masks and businesses who do not enforce the requirement to wear masks. The order reads:
If a person does not wear a Face Covering in a situation where a Face Covering is required under this Executive Order, and if an exception to the Face Covering requirement does not apply:
a. Law enforcement officers may cite the people who failed to wear Face Coverings as required by Executive Order; and/or
b. Law enforcement officers may cite a business or organization that failed to enforce the requirement to wear Face Coverings.
Larger businesses must take even fourth measures. A recent press release from Gov. Cooper’s Deputy Communications Director, Ford Porter, states:
The Order also requires large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet to have an employee stationed near entrances ensuring mask wearing and implementing occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
The Executive order is set to go into effect Wednesday, November 25, and will run through December 11.
Read the full executive order here.
