Chapel Hill Review

Orange County is continuing to reopen as part of the state's Phase 2.5 reopening plan, the town of Chapel Hill said.

The state is now the latest phase, which will remain in effect until Oct. 31, state officials said. 

The county limits mass gatherings at 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, which will remain until the county's positivity rate is below 5%, Chapel Hill officials said in a Sept. 4 statement. The town's positivity rate is currently approximately 10%.

"We need the community to partner with us in order to get the positivity rate down to 5% for a sustained amount of time," Penny Rich, chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, said in the statement. "Any indoor and outdoor gatherings still require strict adherence to the three Ws: Wear a face covering over your mouth and nose, wait 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household, and wash your hands regularly."

Playgrounds were scheduled to reopen on Sept. 11, museums and aquariums can open at 50% capacity, while gyms and exercise facilities are at 30% capacity, Chapel Hil said in the statement.