North Carolina will begin a "modified stay-at-home order" on Friday requiring residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Restaurants, bars, and most retail stores and more must close by 10 p.m. and alcohol sales must end by 9 p.m., said Gov. Roy Cooper

"Our trends are alarming," Cooper tweeted.

"We already have strong safety protocols and capacity limitations in place -- including a statewide mask mandate," Cooper said. "With this additional action beginning Friday, we hope to get these numbers down."

The order lasts until Jan. 8.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' husband, Marlon Reis, was released from the hospital Tuesday after being admitted this weekend for COVID-19, the governor said.

"Marlon and I are so thankful for the doctors, nurses, and staff who took care of him," Polis tweeted.

Reis is "feeling well" and will take steroids for two more days per his doctor's recommendation, the governor's office said.

Polis, who also tested positive for COVID-19, "continues to not experience any symptoms," his office said.

ABC News' Jeff Cook contributed to this report.

President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday outlined his top three COVID-19 priorities for his first 100 days in office: a 100-day mask-wearing program, 100 million doses of the vaccine into Americans arms in the first 100 days, and getting schools reopened permanently.

"We didn’t get into this mess quickly. We're not going to get out of it quickly," Biden said. "But I'm absolutely convinced that, in 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better."

Biden warned that distributing the vaccine would be one of the hardest and costliest challenges the country will face and will require the cooperation of Congress.

“We’re gonna need Congress to fully fund vaccine distribution to all corners of the country, to everyone," Biden said. "I'm encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress around a $900 billion economic relief package which I've said is critical, but this package is only a start for more action early next year."

"We'll also need the Trump administration to act now," Biden added, "to purchase the doses it has negotiated with Pfizer and Moderna, and to work swiftly to scale manufacturing to U.S. populations and the world."

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state's restriction on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, gyms and religious services will be extended to Jan. 4, 2021.

"We need to buckle down through the holidays," Inslee tweeted.

"The hospitalization projections are scary. We’re already at 80% ICU capacity," Inslee said, adding, "our hospitals are still on the brink."

Washington state has over 184,000 diagnosed COVID-19 cases and at least 2,941 fatalities.

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 16 through Jan. 10, all non-essential stores and schools will be closed in Germany and social meetings will be limited to five people from two households, with an exception made for the Christmas period from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 when four more people beyond a household will be allowed.

No exceptions will be made for New Year's Eve.

COVID-19 transmissions remain high in the country despite softer restrictions in place. As of Dec. 13, the Robert Koch Institute reported a total of 20,2000 new cases and 321 deaths, bringing the totals to 1,320,716 and 21,787, respectively.

Germany had initially planned for a "semi-lockdown," allowing for a holiday exemption from Dec. 23 to Jan 1 where up to 10 people from two households could meet but those plans were scrapped in favor of these new rules.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.