King Cooper Prolongs the Pain with “Phase 2.5,” Mandates Masking Children

RALEIGH – After reiterating that summertime trends have continues to improve, with hospitalizations falling hard, and deaths falling harder, Governor Roy Cooper announced that launch of “Phase 2.5” of his [non]reopening plan on Tuesday, to begin on September 4.

Of course, this newest “plan” doesn’t even reach Phase 2 of the ORIGINAL reopening plan Cooper announced months ago.

Cooper started the press conference by passive-aggressively scolding those that don’t comply with his arbitrary commands:

“North Carolinians, most of you are showing you know how to fight this disease, and most of you should be proud of yourselves.” – Governor Roy Cooper

The rest of you can go to Hell, apparently.

Under this fake ‘Phase 2.5’ plan, our benevolent despot will again allow kids to play on playgrounds, meaning the Panicked Sheep can take the padlocks off the swings and the caution tape off the jungle gym. He’s also allowing museums and aquariums to open at 50 percent capacity (completely arbitrary); gyms and fitness centers to open at 30 percent capacity (also completely arbitrary).

The limits to ‘Mass Gatherings’ will also increase to 25 people indoors (from 10) and 50 people outdoors (from 25) — both completely arbitrary numbers. Also of note, a BLM/Antifa protest in Raleigh Friday with about 1,000 people in close quarters received ZERO mention or admonishment at Tuesday’s press conference by Governor Roy Cooper.

However, the Dear Leader did include a new requirement in his decree: children all the way down to the age of five must comply with the statewide face mask mandate. Despite the stated reliance on ‘science and data,’ there are no data and no science that support such masking of children.

Further, the fake Phase 2.5 plan keeps bars, nightclubs, movie theaters and indoor entertainment venues, and amusement parks will remain SHUTDOWN by executive edict. This is an effective death sentence for thousands of businesses across the state.

Capacity restrictions at restaurants and other businesses remain the same as before.

Oh, and Cooper dropped a hint that he doesn’t plan for restrictions and mandates to go away until there is “a cure.”

“I want to be clear — we can do this safely only if we keep doing what we know works — wearing masks and social distancing. Moving to Phase 2.5 means we can safely do a few more things while still fighting the virus as vigorously as ever.

In fact, a new phase is exactly when we need to take this virus even more seriously. Wearing a face mask, washing your hands, waiting 6 feet apart. These things have never been more important.

Until we have a vaccine or reliable cure, precautions like the 3 W’s are with us for a while. Life may look a little different, but every time we wear a mask, we help our economy by slowing the spread. We make it safer to visit our favorite stores, restaurants & other businesses.”

This, of course, is absolutely asinine and irresponsible to condition the restoration of core rights on “a cure” for a virus family that has never had an effective vaccine ever before. Although, that’s not inconsistent, considering the that the lockdown policies were asinine and irresponsible in the first place.

Regrettably, those policies will remain on into October, at which point they will likely be extended until after the election, when the virus will begin mysteriously fading from view…