Thread by @PeteKaliner

@NC_Governor Roy Cooper is fixin' to do a COVID briefing.

Live tweeting to commence.

Again, my apologies to non-#NCpol folks.
ncdps.gov/news-conference

Cooper starts with case counts, hospitalizations, death toll.
Numbers have stabilized. Good.
But numbers are too high.
Virus is still spreading. A new contagious variant in NC.
Can't let guard down.
Do the 3 Ws.

#NCpol

Cooper:
Top priority is getting vax to people as quickly & equitably as possible.
We've administered 99.8% of first doses rec'd from fed gov't.
Sticking point is lack of supply.
We have 1,000s of shots. But we have MILLIONS of people who need them.

#NCpol

Cooper:
Good to hear Biden promises more doses.
Until we get more vax, keep doing 3Ws.
I want everyone immunized.
Spot to get your shot.
COVID has strained our patience and our economy. HOPE program has paid $130 M to landlords & utilities.

#NCpol

Gov introduces Health Sec. Mandy Cohen, who begins going over the graphs of:
- COVID-like syndromic cases
- new COVID cases (starting to level)
- % of tests that are + (leveling at 10%... goal is 5%)
- hospitalizations

#NCpol

Cohen:
We're past holiday spike, but virus is still spreading.
And now there is a new strain.
The best way to protect others is to act as if you have the virus already.
3Ws.
I know people are tired & stressed. Tough year.

24/7 HOPE hotline: [phone]

#NCpol

Cohen:
We did 99% of all first doses, so we're in a strong position to lobby for more vaccines from feds.
As vax supplies increase over next several months, everyone will get "a spot to get their shot." (PR slogan rolled out a few weeks ago)

#NCpol

Cooper:
I will extend current stay-at-home order through Feb. 28, 2021.

Curfews, closures, etc. remain in place.

Extending eviction moratorium.
Extending to-go cocktails.

#NCpol

Cooper introduces Mike Sprayberry who thanks Cooper for his "outstanding leadership."

Talks about snowstorm entering NC tonight.

#NCpol

WRAL reporter Q:
When do you think we'll have enough vax to move into new phase?

Gov:
Can't predict that yet. We hope for additional vax..

Cohen:
Working with vax partners. Not moving yet, but want to move quickly. Monitoring the data. Working with providers.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What do you say to people who had vax appointments canceled?

Gov:
I know you're frustrated. Please keep trying to get new appointments. People are working night & day to get everyone vax'd.

#NCpol

WBTV reporter Q:
CDC says transmission wasn't happening at high levels in schools. Will you tell schools to give parents an in-person option?

Gov:
My priority is to get kids back in classrooms. We gave districts options. Ask local boards & supts to study this new data.

#NCpol

Fayetteville Observer reporter Q:
Is state doing enough to get vax in nursing homes?

Gov:
It's been a priority to protect people in nursing homes. Feds decided it was going to LTC vax program. Running slower. Told Biden to pick up pace. Some residents refuse vax.

#NCpol

Gov:
Minority communities are skeptical of vax. They are safe. Everyone is working hard.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Do you regret not opting out of that fed program?

Gov:
I believe all states are under that program?

Cohen:
No. Some states could opt out.
CVS & Walgreens have been good partners & completed all their 1st doses. Good partners.

#NCpol

Winston-Salem Journal reporter Q:
1-Secretarial order extended?
2-Why teachers not prioritized?

Gov:
Teachers are next in line with essential workers.

Cohen:
Yes, my Secretarial Directive is still in place.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What authority are County Health Departments (like Davie) using to vax teachers?

Cohen:
Priority list is 65+ population. Maybe appointments made prior to our shift in priorities. Some flexibility at local level.

#NCpol

WITN reporter Q:
Do you think more of the state budget should go to vax? Optimistic to avoid budget stalemate?

Gov:
While we need resources to administer vax, what we need first IS the vax from feds.
Nobody wants a stalemate. Voters wanted divided gov't.

#NCpol

Carolina Public Press reporter Q:
Do county-level officials get to decide to move to new vax priority group?

Cohen:
We give guidance. We need to prioritize speed. But do it in a prioritized way.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
For health officials is there a process to determine evidence that people are legit in a priority group?

Gov:
Things will get complicated. We want there to be discretion at the local level. We don't want too much complexity to stop vaccinations.

#NCpol

Axios Charlotte reporter Q:
Timeline to approve private clinics to distribute vax?

Gov:
We want as many as we can get.

Cohen:
Gov is right. Vax supply is limited. Need to be strategic to onboard providers in areas with lower access points.

#NCpol

N&O reporter Q:
Why is the #SHEO through Feb?
When schools open?

Gov:
State Board of Ed looking at it.
We give a month for #SHEO to protect the public. We can always remove some earlier if data allows.
Believe cocktails to-go is good economic boost for bars.

#NCpol

ABC-11 reporter Q:
How does plan change if we get more vax?

Gov:
Not much. Going from 120k doses to 140k doses per week. Glad for the addition, but some of those new doses are SECOND doses - not first doses.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Clarify - these 140k are all first doses.
We'll use the 20k extra to help baseline guarantee minimum vax levels per county.
Use rest to balance across population - historically marginalized population.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Will you mandate appointments?

Gov:
We encourage. Not mandating. Still be events that are not appointments.

#NCpol

WUNC reporter Q:
How much oversight does DHHS have over local health departments efforts on equitable distribution?

Gov:
Vax need to go to under-served communities.

Cohen:
We work with all providers. We recognize on-the-ground realities & flexibility needed.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Working to get to a point where we have all the racial data on the dashboard next week.

Follow-up Q:
Do you have oversight on the fed LTC program?

Cohen:
Residents & LTC workers only.

We don't want any vax wasted. But going out of priority order should be rare.

#NCpol

Briefing ends.

#NCpol