Updates from Gov. Cooper’s COVID-19 briefing:
We’ve set out in detail the benchmarks we want to hit as we move toward the phases that will help spur the economy while keeping us safe. I invite you go to nc.gov/covid19 & visit the case count dashboard to see how we’re doing in our fight to slow this disease.
We’re seeing some leveling and hope to see more. We know what helps push down these numbers: social distancing, careful cleaning and staying home. If we keep working at these, we’ll get to where we need to be.
Last week, I told you about the budget proposal we made to the legislature. Today, the session starts & they'll work on ways to direct federal dollars to help our state. If done right, we can get more testing, increased equipment, unemployment assistance, and other vital help.
We’re enacting our battle plan. Yesterday, @ncdhhs signed a key partnership to advance our efforts to fight COVID-19. The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative brings 2 trusted groups together that have long-standing experience in health care to bring on more contact tracers.
Contact tracing is critical to our ability to safely ease restrictions. Think of it like detective work helping track down anyone who may have been exposed to a person who tests positive.
That’s an essential step to containing and isolating those who may carry the disease. The collaborative has already started recruiting for the 250 positions they will need to fill. Time is of the essence, and I appreciate their quick work to stand up this partnership.
I also want to thank another of our key partners today for their work – the @NCNationalGuard. Without missing a beat, these 939 men and women that I have activated have been there when we need them. “Always Ready,” as their mission explains.
Yesterday the head of our National Guard General Todd Hunt and I had a call with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and we got to thank him for the tremendous partnership we have in our state, and for the essential work the National Guard is providing in food supply & logistics.
One of the National Guard’s first tasks is supporting warehouse logistics. They’ve conducted 242 missions, traveling over 45,000 miles to 77 counties delivering personal protective equipment to hospitals, medical sites and other facilities in need.
General Allen Boyette is leading our Food Supply Chain Work Group, which meets daily. They are ensuring our grocery stores remain stocked and our food supply remains strong. They’re also working with our food banks, delivering over 40,000 meals to school nutrition sites.
And we have Army and Air Guard medical personnel ready to assist in the event we need to use Sandhills Regional Medical Center as an overflow medical facility.
These are just some examples of the work of our National Guard. I am proud of them. I am grateful for them. And I can rest just a little bit easier knowing they are Always Ready when we need them.
As we enter another week of staying at home, I want to thank North Carolinians everywhere for following the restrictions. And I want to remind everyone that we can't let our guard down just yet.
We've grabbed hold of the opportunity to save lives in North Carolina. We have done that together, through our own actions. We continue to plan for the days ahead when we ease restrictions and work our way back to a new normal. But for now, stick with it.
We can do this. I know it’s hard, but it is saving lives. As one Charlotte teacher said she would virtually write in her students’ yearbooks, “Rise up. Move on. You can do it.” We can do this, North Carolina.
