Sidewalks in downtown Lumberton are devoid of pedestrians Friday, two days after Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was extending Phase II restrictions on, among other things, businesses, gyms and mass gatherings.

Tomeka Sinclair | The Robesonian

LUMBERTON Residents and business owners here have mixed feelings about Gov. Roy Coopers Wednesday announcement to extend the states Phase II reopening plan for an additional five weeks.

The plan requires bars, gyms, movie theaters and amusement parks to remain closed and requires face coverings in public places. The plan first announced May 8 has been extended four times.

Phase II of Coopers reopening plan allows the opening of dine-in restaurants with limited seating, barber shops, salons, parks and public pools. The order was first extended May 22 after expiring, then extended again June 24 with the addition of mandatory wearing of masks when in public places that dont offer opportunities for social distancing.

The order was again to expire July 17, but Cooper announced yet another extension July 14.

While some residents stand by the Coopers decision, others feel the state is ready for some normalcy.

Daven McCall, part-owner of Ooh La La Boutique, closed for three weeks after the initial stay-at-home order was issued. He said the governor should have more trust in businesses to reopen.

I think everybody is ready to open, McCall said. I think people now understand the importance of social distancing. If Im in the elevator and I see other people, Ill get out of the elevator. Now its all about being safe.

McCalls exception is bars and clubs. Being in an environment with people being intoxicated, more germs in the air, and just a close environment, the risk is much higher for being infected with COVID-19, he said.

Gyms should be treated like restaurants and limit the amount of people entering, while also cleaning thoroughly, he said.

McCall believes keeping things closed will only make reopening that much harder.

Its probably going to be harder to keep social distancing if we stay closed, he said.

Tony Paylor, owner of Diamonds Cuts and Styles barbershop since 2016, was forced to close his shop because of Coopers initial shutdown order. His business, and barbershops across the state, wasnt allowed to reopen as part of Coopers Phase I plan.

Although Paylors business took a hit during the time, and he is still feeling the effects now, he stands by the extension of Phase II.

I think its the right thing to do for right now, Paylor said. The disease is still up. Its not getting much better.

A lot of people are still scared to come out.

Paylor said he tries to see hope, but doesnt feel confident about where the state is now.

I look forward to things getting back to normal, but its going to be a while, he said. Its going to get rough before it gets better but I hope things change.

Jordan McNeill and Kim Locklear, both cashiers at Sweet Candy Cafe in Lumberton, have mixed feelings about the reopening.

Locklear said she understand why bars and gyms still cant reopen.

Bars are not big open spaces, Locklear said.

Theres no way to social distance in those types of settings, McNeill agreed.

However, McNeill believes its not fair that other businesses can reopen.

I understand hes (Cooper) taking extra precautions, but we still got all this other stuff open, McNeill said.

Jack Taylor, owner of Jacks Electronics, for nine years, is completely against the governor shutting down the state to begin with.

I think its all just a bunch of bull, Taylor said. Im just ready for it all to be over with, really.

Taylor questions the legitimacy of COVID-19 being a major threat.

It was never a pandemic to start with, Taylor said. I think everything needs to get back to normal.

He agrees that more safety measures should be in effect for the elderly, but no more than what has been done for the flu, Taylor said.

I can see for older sick people, but 40 minus, no, Taylor said. Its no different than the flu is in the winter.

Susan J. McNeill, an employee at the Taylors business, said she has no opinion on the matter but she does have personal boundaries.

I dont have no opinion, but Im sick and I dont want you in there (Jacks Electronics) coughing on me, McNeill said.

Joyce Thompson, a traveling certified nursing assistant, is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Taylor.

You gotta think about your life, Thompson said. I think about me every day going back to work and having to worry about catching COVID-19 and bringing it back to my kids.

I dont disagree with that (extending Phase II), no I dont.

Thompson said keeping essential businesses, and barbershops and salons open is a necessity, but bars and gyms are not.

Thats different, something to enjoy life, she said. Thats not something thats got to be open. Thats fun.

Bars and gyms offer opportunities for too much clutter, she said.

Hospitals are cluttered, but we need that, Thompson said. Thats saving a life, not taking a life.

One of Thompsons clients, Ernest Page, disagreed and argued that keeping businesses closed leaves young people idle and increases crime and homelessness.

Theres a lot of them out of work and theyre killing each other, Page said. They should open back up to give young people the opportunity to work. Jobs, school, work, they need to open back up.

He sees the impact the order has caused on businesses.

Look how this foundation is going down, he said. Theres people out here homeless. They need to get this thing going.

The Phase II expansion is to expire Sept. 11.

Tomeka Sinclair can be reached at [emailprotected] or 910-416-5865.

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Coopers extension of Phase II order stirs strong, mixed opinions in Lumberton - The Robesonian