North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 of its reopening plan.
Gov. Roy Cooper made the announcement Tuesday as the state saw another 2,582 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 added in the past 24 hours.
Gov. Cooper is also lowering the indoor gather size limit from 25 down to just 10 persons.
The restrictions are now set to remain in place until December 4th.
Gov. Cooper says the state is working on assisting restaurants that are struggling during the pandemic.
Starting Thursday, full-service restaurants seeking help with rent payments or mortgage interest may apply to the N.C. Department of Commerce for up to $20,000.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen says the state is on shaky ground heading into Thanksgiving.
Cohen recommends limiting travel and getting tested just before any holiday gatherings with family and friends.
As of Tuesday, North Carolina had recorded a total of 297,442 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19.
4,660 of those cases have resulted in death.
