The City of Gastonia reopened some government buildings to the public on June 7. Those buildings and facilities had been closed to the public since March 2020 as a way to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19. The City continues to comply with the State of North Carolina's executive orders regarding pandemic safety and encourages eligible residents to be vaccinated.
City of Gastonia buildings that reopened to the public June 7:
- Garland Center, including in-person inquiries about Utility service
- Police Department
- Many recreational facilities
Gastonia City Council meetings
- All Gastonia City Council meetings are being held at City Hall until further notice. Meetings were reopened to the public starting June 15.
Facemasks are required at:
- The Transit Station and on City buses
- Schiele Museum
- Gastonia airport
- T. Jeffers Community Center
Facemasks are recommended in all City of Gastonia buildings and facilities for people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Gaston County COVID-19 vaccine clinics
- State of North Carolina's COVID-19 vaccination locations
North Carolina has ended its facemask and social distancing requirements for people who have been fully vaccinated. The lifting of those restrictions took effect May 14 and applies in many, but not all settings.
- State of North Carolina June 11 news release about extending pandemic response measures
- State of North Carolina June 11 executive order about COVID-19 restrictions
- Frequently asked questions about the lifting of mask requirements and other restrictions in most settings
North Carolina is using a color-coded County Alert System regarding the spread of the coronavirus. Gaston County is classified as "yellow" with significant levels of community spread.
Important resources about COVID-19 and vaccinations
Health information
- Gaston County's Gaston SAVES initiative (information about masks, vaccines and COVID testing)
- North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services vaccine website and hotline: 1-888-675-4567
- North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services NC COVID-19 case count
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control coronavirus website
Individuals and families
- Utility bill assistance for low-to-moderate Gastonia residents offered by the City of Gastonia and United Way of Gaston County
- Gastonia Electric Assistance Resource (GEAR helps low-income customers pay their electric bills)
- Crisis Assistance Ministry of Gastonia (assistance with utility bills, rent/mortgage payments and food)
- NC HOPE program (rent and utility assistance related to the pandemic)
- NC 2-1-1 hotline and website (free information and referral service about locally based health, financial and human services)
- NC360 website (free referrals to local assistance with food, housing, health care, financial, child care, mental health and other needs)
- NC Crisis Intervention Program (assists qualifying individuals and families unable to pay the cost of heating or cooling their residence)
- NC Child Care Hotline for local care options for children under age 12: 1-888-600-1685
- NC health insurance options
- NC unemployment assistance
- NC Check My Symptoms (interactive tool to determine if you should be tested for COVID-19)
- NC Find My Testing Place (interactive locator of COVID-19 testing sites)
- NC Slow COVID NC exposure notification app
**This page was last updated July 20, 2021.**
