Carolinas Food Industry Council (CFIC) • Coronavirus

CFIC continues to monitor North and South Carolina’s government response as well as federal and local responses as they pertain to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the grocery industry.

North Carolina:

NC Executive Order 116, Issued March 10
Declaration of State of Emergency; Waives Trucking Requirements

NC Executive Order 119, Issued March 20
Facilitates critical motor vehicle operations; expands access to health care

NC Executive Order 133, Issued April 17
Extends Certain Transportation-Related Provisions in Previous Executive Orders

NC Executive Order 134, Issued April 21
Allows furloughed workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits

NC Executive Order 164, Issued September 14
Extends certain transportation-related provisions in Executive Orders 116 and 119.

NC Executive Order 215, Issued May 14
Lifts capacity restrictions and social distancing requirements and lifts face covering requirements in most settings (exceptions include health care settings, schools, transportation, correctional and detention facilities, and homeless shelters); does not prohibit or discourage private businesses from setting their own store policies for their employees or guests; businesses are encouraged to post signage requesting people who aren’t vaccinated to wear a mask but there is no requirement to do so.

COVID Liability Waiver Signage – CFIC has updated signage per this latest Executive Order and guidance, in accordance with NCGS 99E-71 that an employer may post to provide immunity from liability due to COVID-19.

Local Ordinances:

Town of Blowing Rock

Masks and social distancing required for any individual age two and over.

Town of Boone

Masks and social distancing required for any individual age two and over.
Exemptions for health reasons or for those seated at a restaurant.

Buncombe County

Masks are required for ages five and up for indoor locations (public and private).
Masks are recommended between the ages of 2-5.
This order includes unincorporated areas, City of Asheville, the Town of Montreat, the Town of Woodfin, and the Town of Weaverville.

Town of Cary

Masks required for those over age 5 in indoor areas within city limits.

Cumberland County

Masks required for everyone over age five within county limits
This order includes the towns of Eastover, Godwin, Hope Mills, Linden, Spring Lake, Vander, and Wade.

Durham County/City of Durham

Masks required for employees and patrons over the age of 5 within all indoor public places, businesses, and establishments.

City of Fayetteville

Masks required for everyone over age two.

Guilford County/City of Greensboro

Masks required county-wide indoors for individuals in businesses, establishments, and public places.

Town of Knightdale

Requires face covering requirement for both public and private indoor settings.

Mecklenburg County

Masks required indoors for individuals age 5 and over.
Will remain in place until the county drops below a 5% positivity rate.
Includes the City of Charlotte and six towns within the county: Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.

New Hanover County

Requires masks for those over age two in all indoor locations.
Will remain in place until the county drops below a 5% positivity rate.

Orange County

Requires masks for everyone over the age of 2 inside public spaces, including businesses
Includes towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and
Extended indefinitely.

City of Raleigh

Masks required indoors

Watauga County

Requires masks in all county buildings and in areas where space or operations require close contact.
Private businesses are encouraged to follow current NC Department of Health and Human Services guidance.

Wake County

Individuals required to wear masks indoors
Applies only to unincorporated areas, while the twelve municipalities within Wake County would make their own decisions on any local requirements.
Exemptions for worshipping in a religious setting, at a funeral service, exercising First Amendment rights, medical conditions or disabilities.

City of Winston-Salem

Face coverings required indoors within city limits

South Carolina:

CFIC, through its partnership with the South Carolina Retail Association, is tracking local mask mandates within the state. Below are the high-level details of the various local ordinances:

City of Cayce

Requires masks in all businesses open to the public, including all retail, restaurants, and convenience stores.
Retailers are required to ensure employees comply.
Retailers are not required to enforce the requirement of the public.
Signage is required to be posted alerting the public of this ordinance.

City of Charleston

Strongly encourages masks, especially for children ages two through 12.
Strongly encourages everyone over the age of 12 to get vaccinated.
Moved back to Phase III of the city’s reopening plan which requires masks in all city facilities.

City of Clemson

Requires masks for those two years of age and older in select businesses including grocery stores (including retail stores containing groceries for sale), produce stands, convenience stores and pharmacies and encourages face masks to be worn in all other retail establishments.
Required signage has been developed and distributed by the city.

City of Columbia

Requires masks for those six years of age and older in all public places and places open to the public, including all retail and restaurant establishments.
Requires employers to ensure their employees comply.
Employers are not required to ensure the public complies with this ordinance.

City of Forest Acres

Requires masks for those five and older in all businesses open to the public
Retailers are required to ensure employee compliance
Retailers are not required to enforce masks with the public
Signage is required to be posted at all entrances

City of North Charleston

Requires masks in city-owned facilities.
Encourages businesses to adopt similar measures.

City of Orangeburg

Requires masks in all businesses open to the public, including all retail and food establishments.
Retailers are required to ensure employees comply.
Retailers are not required to enforce the requirement of the public.
Encourages masks in retail establishments

Richland County

Requires masks for those 11 years of age and older in all businesses open to the public, including all retail and food establishments
Retailers are required to ensure employees comply
Retailers are not required to enforce the requirement of the public

City of Sumter

Encourages masks in retail, food and other establishments.

City of West Columbia

Requires masks for those three years of age and older in all retail and foodservice establishments.
Requires employers to ensure their employees comply.
Employers are not required to ensure the public complies with this ordinance.
Businesses required to post signage alerting the public to the City’s mask requirement. Feel free to post this signage to remind customers of this local emergency ordinance.

Recommended Precautions from the CDC

The CDC website advises employers to:

Actively encourage sick employees to stay home.
Send home sick employees.
Perform routine cleaning.
Advise employees before traveling to check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest coronavirus guidance and recommendations.
More information for businesses can be found on the CDC website here.