The Grinch: Cooper Curfew, New Restrictions ‘Especially for the Holidays’

RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper announced a new ‘modified’ statewide stay-at-home order Tuesday, in which North Carolina citizens subjects will be prohibited from leaving their homes from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM every night. Businesses will be required to close by 10:00 PM, all alcohol sales must now stop at 9:00 PM. Of course, there’s a long list of exceptions, but emphasis was put on a person having proof their sanctioned activity if stopped by local police, who’ve been tasked with enforcing the executive order.

The order, which will stay in effect until January 8, is especially important to comply with over the holidays, said Cooper in his Tuesday presser:

“Our new modified stay-at-home order aims to limit gatherings and get people home where they are safer, especially during the holidays. It’s also a reminder that we must be vigilant the rest of the day – wearing a face mask when we are with people we don’t live with, keeping a safe distance from others and washing our hands a lot.”

When asked by a reporter how much confidence the administration is that these new measures will work, and if there’s any evidence of such curfews working elsewhere, Cooper could offer little more than, ‘We hope so.’ That’s because there is no solid, demonstrable connection between curfews, lockdowns, restrictions, and improving coronavirus trends.

Nevertheless, the urge to ‘do something’ is too powerful, regardless. Even so, there are exceptions that prove just how arbitrary these rules are in nature.

Stores that sell groceries, medication, health care supplies, and fuel will be allowed to remain open past curfew, according to the order. Also, restaurants, breweries, distilleries and wineries can still offer delivery and take-out after 10 PM (and you as an individual are allowed to get food past curfew).

In fact, there are a number of exceptions for people to be out after 10 PM. People going to or from work, getting food or medical care, taking care of someone in another household or for religious services can leave their home during the curfew hours.

Again, though, you’re asked to have proof of why you’re out of the house if stopped by law enforcement. Violation of the executive order means a Class 2 Misdemeanor (up to a $1000 fine), if police are willing to enforce it.

That goes for the previously reinforced restrictions, too, like wearing a mask in your own home if you have a non-household member over, or limiting your Christmas dinner and celebrations to 10 people or less (or else), and all still masked up, of course.

Does this make you feel merry? Is your Christmas spirit spilling over? Do you feel free? Will these restrictions make you feel safe?

Christmas 2020 is being stolen. Not by a virus, and not even by the governor doing his best impression if The Grinch, but by the fear itself. We may have presents under the tree, but common sense and true understandings of common good are taken instead.

In celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, one can only hope that a critical portion of us realize this and demand better from our elected, and non-elected representatives.