Businesses, authority navigate unique New Year's Eve in pandemic :: WRAL.com wral.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wral.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated January 1, 2021 9:18 a.m. EST
By Kirsten Guiterrez, WRAL reporter
Raleigh, N.C. Typically, on New Year’s Eve, events and celebrations would take place all across the Triangle, but this is no typical year.
2020 has been difficult and draining for many. Restaurants and bars have taken a major hit during the pandemic, but places like Cantina 18 in Cameron Village are working with what they can to get by, and like many, are hoping for a better run in 2021.
“We’re definitely a little slower, and with the curfew, it’s going to be tough, said owner Jason Smith. But we’ve had a lot of positives. To-go business has been good. The cocktails to-go have been a plus, and I’ve seen an upsale in business because of that.”
Get ready for stepped up patrols and traffic stops as we approach Christmas and the new year.
State troopers and local law officers are looking for impaired drivers, including those who get behind the wheel when they re struggling to recover from a lack of sleep. If you don t rest during the day, you will not be rested when you start driving at night, said Sgt. Chris Knox of North Carolina State Highway Patrol. You must sleep to compensate for that time when you re gonna be on the road, If you re gonna start out make sure that you re prepared, and that would include your body being prepared for that trip ahead of you.
SHP Working to Keep Drivers Safe During the Holidays
With the holiday season in full swing, the State Highway Patrol will be looking to curb the unexpected increase in fatal collisions experienced in 2020. The anticipated increase in vehicle traffic over the coming weeks will require all across North Carolina to practice safe driving habits on our state’s roadways.
Prior to deciding whether or not to travel, the SHP strongly encourages the public to visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) website to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Best practices during the holiday season and information on our state’s current response to the coronavirus can be found on the DHHS website here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/