The latest North Carolina guidance allows larger indoor arenas with a capacity of more than 5000 people to open at 15% capacity, as long as additional safety protocols are in place. These protocols include mask wearing, assigned distanced seating, and a guest flow plan.
The state health officials use data from testing, tracing and trends as well as consultation with the business community to determine necessary restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As North Carolina’s numbers have continued to show improvement and vaccine distribution increases, the state has eased some restrictions. These changes took effect on Friday at 5pm. It lifted the stay-at-home restrictions (people are no longer required to be home between 10pm and 5am), increased gathering limits, allowed for increased occupancy of businesses, venues and arenas, and changed onsite alcohol consumption curfew from 9pm to 11pm. Details are available on the state health department website.
This shift means that students are eligible for in-person tickets to the UNC versus Duke home game on Saturday. Check your email for details from UNC Athletics.
Even if you don't win the lottery to attend or don't feel comfortable attending an in-person event, virtual watch party is happening. Or you can set up your own virtual or in-person watch plan! The state still restricts indoor gatherings to 25 people and outdoor gatherings to 50 when not at a business or arena. While what you can do has changed, what you should do remains the same. Outdoors is better than indoors, mask wearing is better than unmasked, fewer people is better than more people. You need to find your own tolerance of risk, but of course the least risky option is to watch with your roommates and connect with others online.
And when we #BeatDuke, also #BeatCOVID by not rushing Franklin Street. Might we suggest instead going onto your porch or driveway, banging pots and pans, and yelling “Tar” and “Heel” back and forth with all of Chapel Hill?
#GoHeels #BeatDuke #BeatCOVID
