Thread by @PeteKaliner

NC's COVID briefing starts momentarily.
I'll be live-tweeting.
(Apologies for non-NC folks)

Livestream: ncdps.gov/news-conference

#NCpol

@NC_Governor is not present at today's briefing.
Second straight briefing he's not attended.

#NCpol

Sec. Cohen starts with case counts, hospitalizations, and death toll.
Praises frontline health care workers.
"They've borne a weight that would break many."
As of midnight, 95% of all 1st doses have been administered.

#NCpol

Feds put all states on notice that all future vax allocations on how many vax states can administer.
We are ready to take on more doses and need them now.
We have cleared the backlog.
State gets 120k new first doses per week.
Much less than 200K doses we got last week.
#NCpol

Cohen:
This week will be tight on limited supply of vax.
Feds re-supply system is hard for state to plan around.
We expect all providers to use all doses on hand by the end of the week.
#NCpol

Cohen:
Prioritize equity.
Marginalized populations should get vax'd at levels equal or greater than their proportion in the general population.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Check out our data dashboard. Lots of info.
COVID B117 variant now detected in NC.
My directive remains in place. Stay home except for essential trips. If you must go out, do the 3Ws.
#NCpol

Mike Sprayberry, Dir. Emergency Ops:

Day 323 of COVID response activation.
All hands on deck.
18 National Guard vax strike teams on scene supporting counties.
Total 256 NG members supporting these efforts across the state.

#NCpol

Sprayberry:

Volunteers needed for vax sites.
Sign up at: terms.ncem.org

Still a need for PPE.
We shipped PPE to 40 counties yesterday.

#NCpol

Sprayberry:
Get the vax when it's your turn.
It's safe.

Thanks Colby Sawyer for jumping my truck when I got out of the clinic.

Call your loved ones daily.

#NCpol

N&O reporter Q:
Doses per capita vary greatly. How are you determining allocations? What are the factors?

Cohen:
At first it was population based. Then we moved to speed, because we had a backlog & wanted to demonstrate to feds we are ready and able to take on more vax.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Our "go forward strategy": 84k of first 120k weekly doses will be distributed based on population.
The 36k extra will be our reserve to re-balance counties that didn't get enough.
Want it to be done equitably.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Why choose Durham for mass vax event?

Cohen:
We're doing them in a lot of places.

We need multiple strategies & to prove to feds we can get doses into arms - so we get more doses delivered.

#NCpol

WSOC-TV reporter Q:
Some county health departments were left with no vax, rural areas will find it harder to get to mega-sites?

Cohen:
We need a mix of strategies. Large scale events are one (not only) part.
Supply is limited.
Less doses in coming weeks.

#NCpol

Follow-up WSOC-TV Q:
What have you heard from feds to ramp up & provide more vax?

Cohen:
Supplies are limited. We need more. I expect NC to have used 99% of 1st doses.
No definitive word that we're getting more vax.

#NCpol

WUNC reporter Q:
You tell local clinics not to waste, but how to make sure?

Cohen:
We will post guidance today. We're working on getting the operational cadence correct.
We've surveyed partners on capacity. Last week was heroic push. Next week we'll have fewer doses.

#NCpol

Cohen:
We're working through those details on guidance and best practices.
Collaborative process.
If clinics cannot use it, there is a process to transfer to another provider.
More than 100k were transferred between providers.

#NCpol

NPR follow-up Q:
Great info. Thanks! Some providers are calling friends & family? Line-cutting potential? How much do you tolerate before cracking down on clinics?

Cohen:
We have clear guidance. Clinics should have wait lists. Friends & family should be last resorts.

#NCpol

FOX 8 reporter Q:
Plans for mega site in Guilford?

Cohen:
We'll look at that data. Capacity is there & that's terrific.
Hopeful to get more vax from feds.
Supplies are limited.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Changes to the CVMS & is state tracking appointment no-shows?

Cohen:
We have a few strategies to improve & integrate systems.
We're not tracking no-shows.
That's why clinics need to have a wait list.

#NCpol

Telemundo-Charlotte reporter Q:
Gaston got no doses with 600 appointments. Will they get more next week? Compromise goal of 1M by 7/4/2021?

Cohen:
We were tight on allocation this past week.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Will it compromise goal of 1M vax by July 4?

Cohen:
We'll be limited by # of vax delivered to our state from feds. Hopefully approval of another vax would boost supply.

#NCpol

ABC-11 reporter Q:
NC Health Care Assoc say they've been left out of the design of the process.

Cohen:
I want to appreciate providers who have been working hard. We take their feedback. Our plan incorporates that feedback. I talk to CEOs of hospitals each week.

#NCpol

Cohen:
We now have a work group focusing on vax now.
I appreciate everyone's work.
We got out 95% of 1st doses.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Reports of people coming in from other states? IDs required?

Cohen:
We cannot legally limit by borders. We use our tools to prioritize NCians, but we are prioritizing 65+ and health care workers.

#NCpol

Cohen now wrapping up the briefing & praises health care providers.
"We will beat this pandemic together. Stay well, everyone."

Briefing ends.
#NCpol