Thread by @PeteKaliner

Gov. Roy Cooper's COVID briefing gets underway shortly.

Livestream is here: ncdps.gov/news-conference

I'll be live tweeting in this thread.
As always, my apologies for non-#ncpol followers.
:)

Gov:
Passed the grim milestone of 10k deaths.
But our numbers remain stable.
Declines in % of +tests and hospitalizations.

We must keep our guard up to limit the spread.
Distributing vax q

#NCpol

Gov:
Distributing vax quickly & equitably is our focus.
Working to address them.

Healthcare coverage gap. Add in Long-standing systemic inequities. Tracking the data to ensure fairness & serve communities of color.

#NCpol

NC is making some progress in improving access to vax Black NCians.Gov:
Went from 11% to 18%.
But NC pop is 22% Black.
LatinX community especially low.

New Executive Order allows more vax distributors.
Marshal all state resources to help vax.

#NCpol

Gov:
Biden admin told us today that we're getting another 5% increase in vax supply.
Keep wearing mask.

(Big focus today is EQUITY.)
#NCpol

Cohen:
3 Ws.
>1m doses given so far
18% of vax went to Blacks.
More work to do in LatinX community.
We were one of first states to provide racial data.
Vax avail in every 1 of 100 counties.

#NCpol

Cohen:
We expect vax to be delivered in = proportions to demographics of county.

(Previously, when @GregMurphyMD asked what happens if they don't get proportionate patients, Cohen offered no specific answer.)

#NCpol

Cohen:
Most significant challenge we face is that there is not enough vax supply available.
We will be able to vax more people in coming months.

#NCpol

Charles Evans, President of NC Assoc. of Black County Officials (Chair of Cumberland County Commissioners):

3Ws
I encourage - especially Black & Brown - to get vax.
2% of vax have gone into Brown arms. But they make up 10% of population.
I trust vax. Safe. Tested.

#NCpol

Evans:
I understand the fears, doubts that people of color have.
Pray about this decision.
Talk to you Dr. family & friends. I hope you come to conclusion I did -- that these vax save lives.
Change starts with each of us.

#NCpol

Gov:
Thank you, Commissioner. Inspiring words.

Opens up Q&A

#NCpol

N&O reporter Q:
Frontline workers vax timeline?
Why is fencing around NC capitol still up?

Gov:
83% of deaths are aged 65+
We're vax'ing those people 1st. Along with healthcare workers.
Working on getting more supply.
Working on precise dates.

#NCpol

Gov:
Not sure about the fencing.
We want it open to people. With the insurrection & attack on the US Capitol, the level of threat has been raised.
I'll look into it.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Vax allocation methodology?

Gov:
We tell providers to vax in proportion to racial population.

Cohen:
Methodology uses racial & age data. We want events to target underserved communities.

#NCpol

WRAL reporter Q:
Your EO expands who can administer vax? Wal-Greens sites?

Gov:
EO gives Cohen authority to expand types of people who can give vax. That's to get ready for increased supply (ie: Johnson & Johnson vax).

#NCpol

Cohen:
We are not short on vax providers. We are short on vax supply.
Wal-Green will have vax at end of this week at 300 stores. Small allocation in each store selected by Wal-Greens.
Appointments being taken. High demand. Website issues. About 100 doses at each site.

#NCpol

WRAL reporter Q:
Wake County planning 1st mass vax. 10k doses requested. Will state provide that?

Cohen:
That's a big number. Limited supply.
I'll have to check. Wake has gotten lower amount of vax in recent weeks.

#NCpol

WWAY reporter Q:
How many doses does NC get?
How do you allocate based on age?

Gov:
Limited supply. High demand.

Cohen:
We get about 150k/week.
Feds say we're getting +5% increase.
About 120k are distributed based on county pop.
Bump ups for 65+ and minorities.
#NCpol

Cohen:
Limited vax supply.
Frustrating.
Vax mfg can deliver 3x as much as we're getting.

Gov:

#NCpol

WSOC reporter Q:
Clarification: A lot of concerned teachers. When do they get vax? Move them up?

Gov:
Top priority is getting kids safely back in classroom. New research now tells us schools can re-open.
We need to do more for teachers.
Bonuses for teachers.

#NCpol

Gov:
83% of deaths are among 65+ year olds.
You'll hear specific dates for frontline workers in coming days.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What have we heard from feds about timeline to get more vax to NC?

Gov:
Was on phone today. Admin promised us to do everything they could to increase supply.
Good thing about Biden taking over is a 3-week window of how many doses we're getting.

#NCpol

Gov:
We have a good distribution system set up. We need more supply.

#NCpol

WTVD reporter Q:
What steps has NC taken in setting up J&J vax.

Gov:
We know ease of administering J&J vax (1 dose & no cold storage requirements as Pfizer & Moderna vax).
Feds want to wait on FDA.
We hope it gets authorized. We want it.

#NCpol

Cohen:
We have more capacity to distribute. But we have to wait for J&J approval.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Concerns that data used to encourage schools to re-open was from hybrid districts & now some districts are opening full-time.

Cohen:
No matter what school, everyone has to wear masks, cleanings, 6' distancing.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Depending on layout of classrooms, schools, students who choose to continue remote... not just a hybrid/not hybrid distinction.

#NCpol

AP reporter Q:
Hearing about Virginians are coming across border to get vax. Can counties prevent that?

Cohen:
Vax is a federal asset. Jurisdiction is not meant to prevent people from getting vax. CDC clarified guidance this morning. Team is digging into now.

#NCpol

WCNC reporter Q:
How much Group 1 & 2 have been vax'd?

Cohen:
Looks like 50% of 65+ population.
Not really sure about health care workers.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What factors would you look at to move to Group 3?

Gov:
Vax team has been fixated on getting Group 1 vax'd. Team is working through that process.

Cohen:
Talking to vax providers about what they see on the ground.

(Briefing ends.)

#NCpol