Thread by @NC_Governor

Updates from Gov. Cooper's COVID-19 briefing:

https://twitter.com/NC_Governor/status/1364650839512596480

As of today, we have had 849,630 confirmed cases in North Carolina; 3,346 cases reported since yesterday; 1,530 people in the hospital; and sadly, 11,074 people who have died.

This week, our nation passed the tragic milestone of 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19. We continue to mourn those in North Carolina, across our country and the world who have died.

Despite these grim statistics, we have reason for hope in North Carolina. Fewer people are getting sick. Fewer are needing a hospital. All the metrics that we measure continue to stabilize.

More people are receiving life-saving vaccines every day. In fact, more than half of people 65+ in North Carolina have been vaccinated. We're working to make sure race and ethnicity vaccination rates reflect our population and that we’re reaching underserved communities.

Today marks the first day that our educators are eligible to get vaccinated. Teachers and school staff will be able to get their shots as providers continue to vaccinate those in Groups 1 and 2 – people aged 65 and up and our frontline health workers.

On March 10, additional members of Group 3 essential workers will be eligible. I know that many people including me are eagerly awaiting their turn and the state will continue to work to get more vaccine here from the federal government.

More students are able to return to the classroom in-person following our recommendation on February 2nd that in-person learning can happen safely when proper health protocols are followed. Getting children in the classroom is critical for their education and overall health.

School districts across the state know this, and within the next few weeks, schools serving 96% of our public school students will offer in-person instruction.

Even with children returning to school, I've told legislators I'd sign a bill like Senate Bill 37 they passed requiring children to be in the classroom as long as they fixed it to require schools to follow DHHS guidance & preserve emergency authority for state & local officials.

After alarmingly high numbers throughout the winter holidays, North Carolina’s trends have declined and stabilized. Hospitalizations have dropped to their lowest point since before Thanksgiving. The percent of tests returning positive continues to decline. This is encouraging.

Given the significant and sustained improvement in our COVID-19 metrics, today I am announcing that we will ease but not lift restrictions in several areas with a new Executive Order that will go into effect this Friday, February 26.

The only restriction we will lift is the Modified Stay at Home order. That means no more curfew starting Friday, and more opportunities to gather, shop and attend events if done safely.

When it comes to easing some restrictions, we're depending on people to be responsible. The mandatory mask mandate won't change. As more people gather together it'll be important to social distance. These proven safety protocols are vital as COVID19 is infecting people every day.

Many businesses and venues will be able to stay at or expand to 50% occupancy while still maintaining health and safety protocols.

Gyms, museums, aquariums, barbers, pools, outdoor amusement parks, retail establishments, restaurants, breweries and wineries may now open at 50% capacity with health and safety protocols. The time for ending on-site service of alcohol will be moved to 11 p.m.

Some businesses that were limited to operating outdoors at 30% capacity will still have that percentage but will no longer have a 100-person cap. That includes sports fields and venues, stadiums, outdoor bars, outdoor amusement parks and other outdoor businesses.

The new Order will also allow some indoor businesses to open at 30% capacity with a cap of 250 people. These businesses include bars and taverns, indoor amusement parks, movie theaters, indoor sports arenas and others.

An exception for larger indoor arenas with a capacity of more than 5000 people will allow up to 15% capacity if more safety protocols are followed. Most college and professional indoor sports like basketball and hockey can have fans at 15% capacity with certain protocols.

It’s also important to note that bars and taverns will be allowed to open indoors for the first time since near the beginning of the pandemic. Capacity indoors is 30% and officials will enforce this limit. Like restaurants and other venues, alcohol sales must stop at 11 pm.

Finally, in other circumstances not outlined above, the mass gathering limit will be increased to 25 indoors and 50 outdoors. We know that the virus still spreads in social visits and informal gatherings.

Easing these restrictions will only work if we keep protecting ourselves and others from this deadly virus. The order and our own common sense say that health and safety protocols must remain in place.

We know that new, more contagious strains of the virus are here in North Carolina. And carelessness could lead to a backslide.

We are making progress. In addition to our improved COVID-19 numbers, we have seen a significant decline in flus and severe colds this year. Many people are wearing masks and social distancing, and it is making a difference.

We’re still far from the end of this pandemic, especially with the vaccine in short supply, millions still to be vaccinated and new variants in the mix. That means we have to keep doing the things we know work – practicing social distancing, washing our hands, wearing our masks.

Today’s action is a show of confidence and trust, but we must remain cautious. People are losing their loved ones each day. Many of us are weary, but we cannot let the weariness win. Now is the time to put our strength and resilience to work so we can continue to turn the corner.