TOWN OF HUNTERSVILLE: Governor Signs Executive Order to Tighten Mask Requirements and Enforcement

By Press release submission

Nov 29, 2020

Town of Huntersville issued the following announcement on Nov. 24.

On Monday, November 23rd, Governor Roy Cooper issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement in response to rising cases across North Carolina and the country (View full Governor's Office news release).

These requirements are outlined in Executive Order No. 180, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 25th and runs through Friday, December 11th.

This order extends Phase 3 and requires face coverings in all public indoor settings. New requirements under this order (see EO-180 FAQ for more):

A face covering will now be required in all indoor settings if there are non-household members present, regardless of the distance away.
- Under previous executive orders, face coverings were required indoors only if people were within 6 feet.
- Under this executive order, face coverings continue to be required in public outdoor settings if individuals are unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance with non-household members.
In indoor gyms and fitness facilities, face coverings are now required when people are exercising.
In restaurants, guests are required to wear face coverings at their table unless they are actively eating or drinking.
Retail business locations with more than 15,000 square feet of interior space must have a worker, at each entrance open to the public, who is responsible for enforcing the executive orders’ face covering and emergency maximum occupancy requirements.
On public transportation, customers may be denied entry if they refuse to wear a face covering.
The executive order’s face covering requirements are now enforceable by law enforcement against individuals.
- Under previous executive orders, face covering requirements were enforceable only against businesses or organizations that failed to enforce the requirement to wear face coverings. Law enforcement continues to have this authority under this order.
To ensure that testing occurs to the maximum extent possible, this order prohibits all local prohibitions and restrictions that would prevent a business or organization from advertising or providing COVID-19 testing.
The Phase 3 executive order is extended through Dec. 11, 2020.
As under previous executive orders, several exceptions to the face covering requirement apply. For example, face coverings are not required for people under 5 years of age, people who have a behavioral condition or disability or people who are actively eating or drinking.
The mass gathering limit remains at 10 for indoor settings and 50 for outdoor settings.
The Phase 3 executive order remains in effect, including all reduced capacity limits, sanitation standards and other restrictions.
Late night alcohol sales are still prohibited from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

While Mecklenburg County remains in the Yellow (Significant Community Spread) on the state's new COVID-19 County Alert System, we are surrounded by counties who are Orange (Substantial Community Spread) and Red (Critical Community Spread). As travel increases over the holiday season, make sure you are heeding this new guidance from the State and aware that local jurisdictions may have additional requirements in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, as encouraged by EO-180.

If you need face coverings for you or your family -- Cloth face masks are still available (in packs of 5) at Town Hall (101 Huntersville-Concord Rd) if you need them for you, your family or any visitors you're expecting over the holidays. You can stop by and pick them up between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. this Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.