RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Protesters were back in Raleigh once again on Tuesday to call for Gov. Roy Cooper to reopen the state fully amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes just days after the state entered Phase 1 of Cooper’s reopening plan.

The crowds at the ReOpen NC protests have shrunk considerably since they began around a month ago.

At one point the rallies were drawing a crowd of more than 1,000 people.

Last week there were barely enough people to pack a downtown parking lot. Today’s crowd was larger than last week’s gathering.

Many of the protesters last week told CBS 17 their friends stayed home to prepare to reopen their small businesses.

Others who have participated in the protests previously said interest has dwindled since one administrator tested positive for COVID-19 and another left the organization after a series of arrests.

For the past few weeks, ReOpen NC protesters have been met by counterprotesters in the health care field who have said reopening too quickly isn’t safe.

Protesters on Tuesday told CBS 17 they were there because of the impact on small businesses.

“People are suffering and it’s horrible. It’s horrible. It’s affecting all of us,” said protester Laura Hamm. “We are all losing businesses. I don’t have a small business but I know plenty people who do and they’ve lost.”