Governor Roy Cooper announced the state is lifting all capacity restrictions and social distancing requirements in restaurants on Friday, May 14. He had previously stated that the mandates would likely be lifted on June 1.

“Today is a great day, but the work is not yet done and people getting vaccinated will get it done,” Cooper said at a news conference on Friday. “The CDC’s guidance affirms that getting vaccinated is the way through this. We can take this step today because the science shows our focus on getting people vaccinated is working.”

Guests are also no longer required to wear masks in restaurants and bars, though businesses may still require it. Cooper urged those who have not been vaccinated to continue wearing masks despite the mandate being lifted. More than half of the adult population in North Carolina has been vaccinated.

The executive order allowing cocktails to go will remain in place until June 1.

The fact that the announcement was made on Friday means restaurants will be scrambling to adjust their dining rooms before opening for their busiest days of service. Though restrictions have been lifted, many restaurants won’t be able to return to full capacity as there was no advance notice to increase staffing — which will be difficult to do, as the city continues to battle a labor shortage.

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