Thread by @PeteKaliner

NC Governor's COVID briefing getting underway.
Watch here:
ncdps.gov/news-conference

I'll be live-tweeting.
#NCpol

Gov:
889k cases
1002 hospitalized

Numbers have remained relatively low & stable.
Trends look good, but keeping watchful & concerned eye on COVID variants in our state - they could spread more easily & make us sicker.

Do the 3Ws.

#ncpol

Gov:
3.4 m doses administered so far
Increased % of Black & Hispanic recipients.

CDC says we're in top 10 of states for equitable distribution. That's fair.

Today we expand eligibility to people with medical conditions that put them at high risk.

#ncpol

Gov:
I worked hard last week to re-open schools via bill from #NCGA.
Say thank you to teachers.
Hope on the horizon. But it's still too early to let our guard down. 3Ws - even after you get the vax.

#NCpol

DHHS Sec. Cohen goes over the graphs.
#NCpol

Cohen's Report Card:

#NCpol

Cohen:
Numbers improving.
Our work is not done just yet.
Keep doing 3Ws.

Emergency Operations Chief of Staff Will Wray (sp?):
Thank you for your outstanding leadership, Gov & Sec Cohen.

Thanks to feds for vax center in Greensboro. Truly 'whole of community response.'

Wray:
Severe weather could be possible as storms move from Western NC in the am and then through the state during the day.
Hail, flooding, & tornados, possible.

#NCpol #NCwx

Wray:
Activating State Emergency Operations Center for this #NCwx event.

Monitor forecast for the next 24 hours.
Now is the time to make prep plans.
readync.org

Do 3Ws.

WECT reporter Q:
Some won't get the vax. Hearing some businesses requiring it. Is that legal?

Gov:
We recommend everyone get vax. Important to educate people. Once they learn about it & see people they trust tell them it's safe, more people get it.

#NCpol

Gov:
We're going to talk with lawmakers about it.
Don't want to get into the legal arguments from the podium.

#NCpol

WBTV reporter Q:
When will vax supplies increase? Will that prompt Group 5 opening earlier?

Cohen:
Supply has steadily increased over 8 weeks. 120k -> 240k coming in. Not including federal programs that are vaxxing.
J&J supply will pick up in April.

#NCpol

Winston-Salem Journal reporter Q:
Group 4 subgroups - what's coming up?

Gov:
We follow data - like when we eased restrictions.
More people are getting out & doing things. Just want people to make sure they're careful & responsible.

#NCpol

Cohen:
Group 4 with medical condition are eligible today.
Half of adults in NC have a condition that puts them at higher risk. Hope people take advantage.
On Apr. 7 we move to other essential workers. Website has details.

N&O reporter Q:
What can you tell people about what restrictions will be lifted next week.
Next benchmark?
So people can plan.

Gov:
We look at combination of data & metrics to decide. We are hopeful we'll see easing of restrictions. Our approach has been positive for NC.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
People are asking ahead of time - Passover & Palm Sunday. What can you say now?

Gov:
Hope we can ease restrictions further in next Ex Order.
We will look at data to analyze in consultation with health experts.

3Ws.
Variants are out there.
#NCpol

AP reporter Q:
Congregate setting like frat house & dorm, but college students who live at home - open eligibility to ANY college student?
Consider adding allergies to list of prioritizations?

Cohen:
I think we'll be able to open up to all groups.
We follow CDC on list.
#NCpol

Spectrum News reporter Q:
Expect to split Group 5 into subgroup?

Cohen:
We don't anticipate splitting 5.
But we'll need to see what vax supply & demand is.
Opening to Group 4 today will pick up lots of people before 5 opens.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
I spent members of the indigenous community. Most won't get vax. Is this something you see? Plan to ease their concerns?

Cohen:
I addressed Commission on Indian Affairs talking about great partnerships.
Can access through Indian Health Svc.

ABC-11 reporter Q:
Is there plateauing demand? If not herd immunity - then what?

Gov:
Good question! Appointments are filling up. We know a lot of hesitancy, though. At some point we'll need to work hard to convince wary people.

#NCpol

Gov:
We will extraordinarily hard to convince people that this is the right thing to do & is safe.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
What role does getting outside and getting healthier have?

Gov:
We know in pandemic many people let other health conditions go untreated. People over-eating, not exercising. Critical to pay attention to health issues. Why I want to expand Medicaid.

#NCpol

Gov:
A lot of people lost their jobs & lost health care.

Cohen:
We know the healthier your body is, the better you are at fighting off COVID. Never been a better time to get healthy.
Impacts of mental health are seen after the crisis.
NC should expand Medicaid.

#NCpol

FOX 46 reporter Q:
Does POTUS guidance for May 1 causing things to get moved up in NC now?

Gov:
No.

#NCpol

Follow-up reporter Q:
Should we be looking for COVID planning to be long-term planning, rather than short-term planning.

Gov:
Yes. Our latest EO was for over a month.
We're planning our recovery. Need people to get vax'd.
Look forward to presenting my budget to #NCGA.

#NCpol

Gov:
Get vax'd so we can recover.
Do 3Ws still.
We can emerge stronger.

<Briefing ends>
#NCpol