Dining in a North Carolina Restaurant Now Requires a Mask

Starting today, Friday, June 26, North Carolina residents must wear face masks when out in public to help control the spread of COVID-19. This requirement goes for both indoors and outdoors, when people are within 6 feet of non-household members. This includes, of course, in restaurants. Bars in North Carolina still aren’t allowed to open per Governor Roy Cooper’s reopening phase plan. Earlier this month, North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association (NCBATA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of 185 businesses for private bars to allow them to reopen, but that has not amounted to new legislation.

In South Carolina, it is up to city officials to determine if citizens are required to wear masks. Governor Henry McMaster has not made mask wearing mandatory, but cities like Clemson, Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston (effective July 1) have voted to require face masks when indoors or outdoors where it is not possible to social distance. Until recently, many restaurants across the state asked employees to wear personal protective equipment, but did not place any restrictions on diners.

• What Does NC’s Face Mask Order Mean? [N&O]
• North Carolina Bars Sue Governor’s Office for Right to Reopen [ECAR]
• Charleston Votes to Require Masks As County Leads SC in New Coronavirus Cases [P&C]