April 30. COVID-19 restrictions ease starting today, based on a new Executive Order from Gov. Roy Cooper.

—Masks will no longer be required outdoors but will still be required indoors in public places.

—Wearing masks is still encouraged in outdoor spaces with large crowds or where social distancing is not possible.

—Limits on mass gatherings will increase to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors.

—Social distancing will remain important, as well as vaccinations

—40.5 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated, according to the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services.

Cooper said the goal is to eliminate the indoor mask mandate on June 1, but being able to do so depends on whether the state reaches the target goal of partial vaccination of two-thirds of North Carolina adults, and other COVID-19 trends and metrics remaining stable.