No mall strolling: Phased reopening is not ‘business as usual,’ Meck health director warns 

Many stores and other businesses around Charlotte will reopen Friday night for the first time in more than one month. But it’s not “business as usual,” says Mecklenburg Health Director Gibbie Harris.

Harris on Thursday urged residents to continue social distancing, avoid crowds, and minimize outings to stores — even those that will reopen and have capacity limits during Phase One’s of the state’s reopening plan. Staying home, she said, will help protect the community’s “most vulnerable” residents.

North Carolina’s stay-at-home order remains in effect though reopening rules are less restrictive and many businesses, including malls, previously deemed non-essential will be permitted to reopen at 5 p.m. Friday.

“This should not be seen as an opportunity to go back to business as usual — to hang out at the mall, to walk around, to stroll, and to shop,” Harris said Thursday afternoon during a news conference.

“We need you to social distance … Know what you need when you go (to the store) — not just to shop....”

Phase One will allow many businesses to reopen at 50% capacity. The reopened businesses will be required to ensure customers stand at least six feet apart.

Gyms, bars, personal care services and entertainment venues will remain closed during phase one of reopening. And gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited. State officials have said future phases to the reopening plan will be dependent on whether certain benchmarks are met with slowing the spread of the virus.

“We will be watching our data ... We should know the impact that this is going to have within the next couple of weeks. We will see that in the data,” Harris said.

But with stable trends for now, Harris said Mecklenburg is in the right position enter Phase One on Friday evening.

Office work during stay-at-home

Office workplaces also may reopen soon but Harris said those businesses must follow rules similar to retail requirements — keeping employees six or more feet apart, disinfecting high-touch areas and encouraging employees to wear masks, if appropriate.

“We’re not recommending opening offices completely back up at this point,” Harris said. ”What we are asking … is that people continue to work from home and telework as much as possible.”

The statewide stay-at-home order will be in effect for at least another two weeks — until the state moves into Phase Two of the governor’s plan.

Harris said in Phase One, people should still only go to the store for necessary items.

“We are depending on the community to be a major part of the solution here for us and not to act as if we’re going back to the way things were before... .”

She said she’s concerned some people won’t “take the continued stay at home order seriously.”

“People have been cooped up for a long time and its really easy for people to see the restrictions loosening and think that it’s back to what was normal before … I’m not sure at what point we’ll be back to what was normal before,” Harris said.

“I would not be a public health professional if I did not have concerns, however concerns can’t stop us from moving forward.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 3:56 PM.