Thread by @PeteKaliner

Fresh off his victory over Special Ed kids, parents, & students seeking in-person instruction, NC Gov. Cooper will hold a COVID briefing in mere moments.

You can watch it here:
ncdps.gov/news-conference

Or, in lieu of gouging out your eyeballs, you can follow this thread.

#NCpol

Gov starts off with a rundown of cases, hospitalizations, deaths.

Gov:
Numbers have declined & remain stable.
We took careful & deliberate actions to ease restrictions last week to help move economy forward while protecting everyone.

#NCpol

Gov:
Kaiser says we're best at vaxing 65+ population!
J&J vax is coming. 80k doses expected tomorrow.
Constant request for more vax has been answered. FEMA vax facility in Greensboro for 8 weeks.

#NCpol

Gov:
All frontline essential workers will be eligible to receive vax beginning tomorrow.
Grateful for their work.
Some members of Group 4 eligible on 3/24.
Higher-risk people.

We still don't have enough vax, though.

#NCpol

Gov:
Been able to move quickly because of dedication of doctors, pharmacists, local health departments.
Fast & fair administering of vax.
Proud to see educators getting vax'd.
Learning in person is critically important.

#NCpol

Gov:
Many reasons to feel hopeful. But we know progress is fragile. New variants. Vax not widely available. Keep wearing a mask.
Recommit to keeping ourselves & each other safe.

#NCpol

NCDHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen:
Exciting moment!
Feds authorized J&J 1-shot vax.
We now have 3 vax.
Frontline essential workers can get vax starting tomorrow.
Let's watch a new PSA about how these heroes plan to get their shot.
(video plays)

#NCpol

(video continues)

#NCpol

Cohen:
Please share this video.
We need your help in the media to give the public accurate information about the vax.

#NCpol

Cohen:
We're changing definitions of the people covered in the vax priority lists.
See the changes: at YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov

#NCpol

WSOC-TV reporter Q:
Did we miss opportunity with homeless?

Gov:
We're deeply concerned about homeless. We know higher risks in congregate living. We've worked very hard to provide services. We know this is a societal issues we have to tackle together.

#NCpol
Gov:

#NCpol

Gov:
Affordable housing. Expand Medicaid.

Cohen:
Anyone 65+ who is homeless can get vax. Shelter workers are eligible tomorrow. This has been an area of focus during pandemic. Wrap-around support.

#NCpol

N&O reporter Q:
Is J&J supply a consistent amount?
Is new timeline a goal or guarantee?

Gov:
No guarantee of consistent supply. Expect a dip, but then ramps back up.
Getting greater supply of Moderna & Pfizer vax. Confident we can stick to these dates to open Group 4.

#NCpol

Cohen:
By last week of March, we expect larger number of J&J doses per week.
Confident of timeframe for Group 4 start date.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Is there a % or population number that people can look for next restrictions lifting?

Gov:
We're going to continue to look at data we always have. We see vax having positive impact on metrics.
Long way to herd immunity.
#NCpol

Gov:
Keep 3Ws.
And congrats, Dawn, on being elected head of Capitol Press Corps.

#NCpol

WRAL reporter Q:
Will you get the vax soon?

Gov:
Yes. I will. I will get any of them.

#NCpol

WECT reporter Q:
We've heard concerns that people want Moderna or Pfizer because of better efficacy.

Cohen:
All 3 are safe and effective.
Folks should know what they're getting (1 dose J&J or 2 dose regiment).

#NCpol

Carolina Public Press reporter Q:
Of the 1.5m first doses already administered - how many are Group 1 & Group 2? Tracking it?

Cohen:
We have contours of that on the dashboard. Group 2 is 65+ older, so you can figure out.
Harder to determine as we open more Groups.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Is that tracked on CVMS? Will a subgroup of Group 4 go first?

Gov:
We built our own system from the ground up so we get data on race & ethnicity. Allows us to track vax equity. Want arms to look like people of NC.

#NCpol

Cohen:
In mid-March, yes, we will open Group 4 in phases.
1st: Those with underlying medical conditions

#NCpol

NC Health News reporter Q:
What do we know about people with disabilities & COVID? Have we been counting cases among them?

Cohen:
We don't collect medical info in CVMS system. Just race, ethnicity, & age.
Group 4 will self-ID as at-risk, but we won't collect that.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Expanding definition of long term care to include long term HOME care.
We're being very attentive to this community.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Analysis from Johns Hopkins showed people with developmental & intellectual disabilities had higher death rates.

Cohen:
We focused on highest risk. Group home residents were part of early vax recipients.

#NCpol

Winston-Salem Journal reporter Q:
Any ONE issue convincing you to accelerate opening Groups?

Gov:
Team in constant communications with providers. Ready to go to next Group.
Some providers won't be ready to move to Group 3.

#NCpol

Outer Banks Today reporter Q:
Dir. Sprayberry was out here - what did you learn in Dare County?
We going to get radio PSA on vax?

Dir. of Emergency Ops, Mike Sprayberry:
Efficient & good attitudes.

Cohen:
We'll get radio PSAs.
#NCpol

WBTV reporter Q:
Smaller grocery store employees included? Bar workers?

Cohen:
Folks that cannot be home. Broad categories. Ask you to wait for Group 4 if you work remotely.

(Briefing ends)
#NCpol

At this point I have to wonder if the #NCpol media participants receive a topic before these briefings.

It's remarkable that almost every single question was about the topic Gov. Cooper & Sec. Cohen came to discuss.

It's astounding that not a single question went to Gov. Cooper about the veto override vote last night.

Or the school re-opening issue at all.

#NCpol