Greensboro Businesses Could Face Fines If State COVID Restrictions Violated

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan issued an emergency declaration that could mean fines and closures for businesses that aren't complying with state-imposed restrictions. Vaughn outlined the measure at a COVID-19 press conference with Governor Roy Cooper.

Greensboro's emergency declaration went into effect on Friday. It reinforces the governor's recent executive orders, which require the use of face-coverings and reduces the occupancy limits for most indoor activities.

The measure says offices and businesses could be fined $100 for each person over the occupancy limit. Violators could also face closures ranging from 24 to 72 hours depending on how many times a citation has been issued. Various city departments have been authorized to issue the civil penalty. Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan says the first violation will result in a warning.

“Many business owners have expressed to me their fear of another shutdown. I don't want that either," says Vaughan. "I want to keep them in business. I want our kids to go back to school. But we must work together to change the trajectory of our numbers.”

COVID-19 cases are climbing in the Triad. Cone Health says hospitalizations have more than doubled in the last three weeks. On Monday, it reported a record 133 hospitalizations.

City leaders in Winston-Salem say they're also evaluating options for a possible emergency declaration.

According to the Greensboro order, offices and businesses should be in compliance with, among other things, the following specific requirements:

• Applicable capacity limits clearly marked at all entrances
• Compliance with such capacity limitations
• Signage on all entrances giving notice that face covering, over mouth and nose, is a requirement to gain admission to any such office or business
• All employees who interact with the general public wearing a face covering
• Any employee who cannot maintain social distance from other employees consistently must wear a face covering
• Social distancing must be maintained as per the Governor's order
• Hand sanitizer must be provided

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