Gov. Roy Cooper to announce changes to executive orders

Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. Photo via N.C. Dept. of Public Safety

RALEIGH – Gov. Roy Cooper will announce changes to executive orders today at 1:30 p.m., according to an updated public schedule from the governor’s office.

The updated schedule appears to be an indication that the governor will make alterations following new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that says fully vaccinated people do not need to abide by mask and social distancing requirements.

A new infographic released by the CDC says fully vaccinated people are at low risk of contracting COVID-19 during most activities.

Gov. Cooper issued a statewide mask mandate on June 26, 2020.

Senate Leader Phil Berger commented Friday on the expected announcement, saying, “The CDC finally formalized what many Americans who think for themselves have been doing for months: Those who are vaccinated should resume their normal way of life, and without masks if they so choose. Gov. Cooper should immediately withdraw North Carolina’s mask mandate.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.