Thread by @PeteKaliner

NC Gov. Roy Cooper begins his COVID briefing in about 10 minutes.
You can watch it here:
ncdps.gov/news-conference

I'll be live tweeting it.
My sincere apologies to non #NCpol folks!

:)

Cooper begins with case counts, %positive, hospitalizations, & deaths.

Notes USA surpassed 500k deaths.
Reason for hope in NC!
Metrics stabilized.
Vax being administered. Making sure race & ethnicity are proportionate to our population.
Teacher vax begins today.

#NCpol

Gov:
More students going back to classroom thanks to my recommendation schools re-open.

I've told #NCGA I'd sign bill like #SB37 if they fixed it as I want.

After alarmingly high metrics through holidays, they are down.

#NCpol

NC DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen:
We have used data to guide our dimmer switch approach throughout this pandemic.

NCians can be proud of our transparency. Bloomberg scored us tops in USA for racial vax data.

Case rates are back to Oct. levels.
(Nobody will ask her why.)

#NCpol

Cohen:
"Yellow lines" for all four metrics. Need to keep our guard up.

Next: County alert system (red, orange, yellow).
27 R (critical - down from 60+ two weeks ago).

We have >half of counties in red + orange.
NCians continue to follow 3Ws + vax, we ARE slowing spread!
#NCpol

Cohen:
New COVID-19 variants are here. More contagious.
Keep doing the 3Ws.
We need to keep protecting each other while we get everyone a spot to get their shot.

#NCpol

Gov:
Will ease - but not lift - restrictions.

Only modifying the #SHEO.
So, no more curfew.

That's it.

Mask mandate remains.
#NCpol

Gov:
Many businesses can do 50% occupancy.

#NCpol

Gov:
New more contagious strains & carelessness could lead to a backslide.
Seen significant decline in flu & severe colds this year - because of 3Ws.
We are far from end of pandemic.
Keep doing 3Ws.

#ncpol

Axios Charlotte reporter Q;
Consider this a turning point? Most sweeping lifting of restrictions. Worried about backslide?

Gov:
We have followed science & data from Day 1. We are serious about slowing spread. People have pulled together. Most are complying.

#ncpol

Gov:
We're only lifting one restriction. We still have capacity restrictions & safety rules in place.

Do the 3Ws.

#ncpol

ABC 11 reporter Q:
Biz hit hard. Does this do enough to get people back to work & jumpstart the economy?

Gov:
A lot of people are taking themselves out of the economy, because they're concerned about their own safety. Some industries have found opportunities in crisis.
#ncpol

Gov:
Tourism & hospitality hit hard. Still in pandemic. Have to do things to protect health and safety.
Easing restrictions as long as people come back carefully can help these businesses.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
On this beautiful day... people thinking about summer concerts.

Gov:
Walnut Creek, Red Hat can open at 30% beginning Friday. With safety protocols.
Outside venues better than inside.

#ncpol

Cohen:
Outdoor settings are better.
But do 3Ws.

#NCpol

WRAL reporter Q:
How much do you base your decision on listening to people?

Gov:
We listen to all people. Families, biz owners.
But controlling issues are the science and data.
Numbers are better now. We are sticking to Science & Data.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What message to companies w/ employees working remotely?

Gov:
Still encourage remote.
Dimmer switch approach.

Cohen:
Agree with Gov. Heading in right direction. But not lifting everything.

#ncpol

N&O reporter Q:
State agencies remote?
Listening to bar & sports assoc to make decisions?

Gov:
Science & Data.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Why not mandate schools re-open the way you want them to?

Gov:
Local control most important here.

(More important than in-person instruction?)

I will sign a re-open bill that complies with my demands.
#ncpol

CBS-17 reporter Q:
Why is now the time to open bars for indoor service?

Cohen:
Trends in right direction. 30% capacity. Alcohol sales end at 11pm. Wear masks if not actively eating or drinking.

3Ws
Hard work slowed the spread. Vaccines.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
How confident are you that you won't reverse these decisions?

Gov:
Science & Data will guide us.
We'll do what we need to do.

#ncpol

AP reporter Q:
Will you get vax in 2 weeks?
Plans to vax teachers on school grounds?

Gov:
I will get vax when it's my turn.

Cohen:
School workers eligible today. Vax supply limited. Some vax sites are at schools. Lots of ways to access vax.

#ncpol

FOX 8 reporter Q:
Are you concerned about surge after Spring Break?

Gov:
We are always concerned about spread at informal gatherings. Holidays peak.
More people are wearing masks.
1M vax'd.
Making progress.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Missing girls in Triad after being targeted by predators on school computers.

Gov:
Deeply troubling. Worked hard to step up ability of law enforcement to go after people like that.
I did that as AG.
And as Gov.
Parents have had to do a lot.

#ncpol

WBTV reporter Q:
What is state doing that Group 2 seniors aren't getting skipped by Group 3 school workers?

Gov:
We gave them a long runway at beginning of process. Concerted effort by providers to reach out to those people.
More vax coming in each week.

#ncpol

NC Health News reporter Q:
Know timeline & number of doses once J&J vax gets FDA emergency authorization?

Cohen:
Talking with federal partners. NC might get 50-60k doses. Not sure.
Working on logistics of that now.

#ncpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
How much surveillance of variants are you doing? How much in NC?

Cohen:
Sending sizable set of samples to CDC. Once confirmed, CDC posts on its dashboard.

#ncpol

Briefing ends.

Questions our #NCpol press corps didn't ask:

- Will Cooper veto #SB37 or let it become law?
- Why have the numbers been dropping?
- Did lifting restrictions on bars have anything to do with his lawyers' terrible performance last week?

I didn't think I'd be more disappointed & frustrated with the #NCpol press corps than I was after the Governor's COVID last week.

I was wrong.

Today was worse.

@threadreaderapp Please unroll.