People in North Carolina will have to wear masks whenever they are around people from outside their household, according to a new executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper.

The governor and state public health officials also called on businesses and local governments to help enforce mask rules and occupancy limits during a news conference Monday.

The announcement came the same day North Carolina passed the 5,000 mark in coronavirus deaths. As of Monday, 5,039 people have died from COVID-19 in the state.

What You Need To Know

  • The state reported more than 5,000 people have died from the coronavirus as of Monday

  • Gov. Roy Cooper extended Phase 3 restrictions and strengthened the statewide mask mandate

  • Masks will now be required outdoors where people cannot use social distancing and in gyms while exercising

  • People are now required to wear a mask when driving in a personal vehicle with someone outside their household

"This Thanksgiving week, our state and the country are reporting record high case numbers and hospitalizations," Cooper said. "I have a stark warning for North Carolinians today: we are in danger. This is a pivotal moment in our fight against the coronavirus."

"If we get more compliance and better enforcement, then we can stem the tide without further restrictions," Cooper said. "If not, we will do what we need to do to protect the health and safety of North Carolinians."

"We know the key to stemming the tide," Cooper said, "and that is tighter local enforcement of the existing rules around masks and occupancy," he said.

Get details about the new executive order here

The new executive order, which begins Wednesday, adds more mask requirements to include outdoors when people cannot stay 6 feet across and at all times in gyms, even if people are six-feet-apart while exercising. The new order also says people are required to wear masks in their personal vehicles when traveling with someone outside their household.

Any retailers with more than 15,000 square feet will be required to have someone stationed at the entrance to enforce occupancy limits and make sure customers are wearing masks.

The new executive order expires Dec. 11.

The state also added 10 counties to the "critical spread" list, which evaluates counties based on coronavirus case rates, the percent of positive tests and hospital capacity.

"The coming weeks will be a true test of our resolve to do what it takes to keep people from getting sick, to save lives, and to make sure that if you need hospital care, whether it’s for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19, you can get it,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services.

"Some of our hospitals are beginning to feel the strain," she said.  

There are more than 1,600 people hospitalized across the state with the coronavirus as of Monday, according to DHHS. Public health officials reported more than 2,400 more cases Monday.

"We are on very shaky ground," Cohen said. "I do not want to see the bottom fall out. I am particularly concerned about our record number of people in the hospital."

North Carolina has reported almost 340,000 cases since the pandemic began in March.

"We need communities and local governments all over the state, but especially in those red and orange hotspots to work with us to enforce the strong safety rules we already have in place," Cooper said.

"We know so much more about this pandemic than we did back in March when we had our first case. We need to put that knowledge to use, particulrly when the actions are simple and the effects are profound," she said, reminding people to wear masks.

Cohen again cautioned against gathering for Thanksgiving. For people who still plan to get together, she said people should wear masks, keep a distance and gather outside.