Thread by @DrTracyTaylor

1/ Cooper presser. Covid metrics. <1000 cases yesterday. Vax “fast and fair.” Huge milestone. Soon we can hug our loved ones w/out fear of severe illness.” (Aside: some of us never stopped/needed you permission to hug our loved ones.) Thanks vax administrators. We got nat’l recog

2/ for being fast/fair. More schls returning to in-person learning. Others pressing to get kids in schls. It’s a priority. (Aside: if it really was a priority, Cooper could mandate Plan A & tells districts to #FigureItOut.) More signs of hope. Positivity rate consistently ~5%.

3/ Hispitalizations ⬇️. But we can’t stop preventative efforts. Until vax widely available, can’t relax. One day soon we can turn corner. (Aside: when will that be, Cooper?!? Give us DATA/TARGET or you’re going out of constitutional authority to keep us closed.) Vax event in

4/ (hospitalizations). Greensboro. Proud of NC for “compassionate resilience.” We’ll continue to monitor progress w/metrics & vax rollout w/respect to EO’s. “If we do this right we will see even more progress as we move into spring.” GIVE. US. THE. TARGETS, Cooper!

5/ Cohen: 1M NC vaxed. Milestone. Me. Me. Me. Barber. Equity = national attention. How/who we allocate to, address barriers. Data transparency so we can hold ourselves accountable (except for Covid metrics, where they’ve NEVER included comorbidities w/Covid deaths). No new J&J

6/ this week. Have 3 vax. CDC guidance yesterday re:vax/safely return to certain activities. Still need to wear mask. Now can hug loved ones. Covid metrics better/hospitalizations ⬇️ but cases still ⬆️ (wrong). Still have work to do. Variants. 3 W’s. Media Q: (WRAL) Berger

7/ presser. Schls opening talks b/w both parties. Cooper: yes we’re talking. I told ppl on 2/3 I wanted stdts back in schl. #’s improving. But I haven’t seen legislation yet. F/U Q: we’ve seen other states remove mask mandates. What’s the # here in NC so we can make changes?

8/ Cooper: we’re listening to health officials (WHO ARE THESE OFFICIALS?) & across the board they want mask mandate in place to protect everyone. Getting people vax. That’s great. We don’t intend to lift mask mandate. So, he did NOT answer the question re: #’s. Folks, this is an

9/ ABUSE of power. Q: N&O - Berger/Ballard presser - announcement today? Cooper: I’m waiting to see legislation. F/U Q: where’s the compromise? Control, or plans? Cooper: I can’t talk about that now. #’s getting better. Want compromise. Q: WSJ - bars/restaurants - did you review?

10/ Cooper: we’re listening to health officials (WHO ARE THESE OFFICIALS?) We’ve saved lives by actions we’ve taken. (Aside: really? Does our virus curve look different than other states with/without mitigation strategies in place? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. But our teen suicides

11/ are ⬆️.) Hopefully can get on other side “soon.” (WHEN? After you’ve run small businesses into the ground?) Q (SN): Vax supply shortages? Cohen: no. F/U Q: guidance for opening vax for kids under 21 y/o? Cohen: Pfizer >/= 16 y/o, Moderna/J&J >/= 18 y/o. Clinical trials

12/ in younger kids studied right now. Q (AP): phase 4 eligibility affected since no J&J next wk? Cooper doesn’t answer. Cohen: J&J already factored in. Will get more Pfizer each wk. Greensboro site opening. ⬆️ in retail doses too. Q (WECP): future shipments - how many doses?

13/ Cohen: 225k doses b/w Pfizer/Moderna (1st doses only). 2nd doses are separate shipment. J&J will help ramp up efforts. Additional doses to manufacturers & federally qualified facilities. Fast & equitable. Q (Fox): equity but low vax rates for Hispanic pop. Why? Cooper: don’t

14/ know about prob if can’t see it (Aside: that must be why comorbidity data omitted on dashboard?) Cohen: we reached larger % Hispanics last wk. Making progress. Data helps drive decision making (Aside: unless we’re talking about Covid metrics to end lockdown/mask mandate. Then

15/15 data bad!) Cooper: working w/American Indian population too. Presser ends.