>> WELL GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BRIEFING ON COVID-19 IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC WE'VE WORKED TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.

IN FACT, NORTH CAROLINA HAS RANKED AMONG THE LOWEST STATES IN COVID DEATHS AND JOB LOSS PER CAPITA.

IN THE EARLY MONTHS WHEN THERE WAS ALMOST NO PPE OR TESTING PRECIOUS LITTLE VACCINE OR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT.

WE PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE LIKE MANDATORY MASKING AND GATHERING LIMITS THAT NO DOUBT SAVED LIVES.

AND WE'VE GOT TO WORK.

WE MANUFACTURED AND STOCKPILE PPE WE EXPANDED TESTING.

AND WHAT EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND MIRACULOUS VACCINES BECAME AVAILABLE.

WE PUSH THEM OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

AND ALL ALONG.

WE INFORMED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS VIRUS.

AND WE SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCED MANDATORY PROTECTIONS, RELYING MORE ON PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TO MAKE EDUCATED CHOICES.

THESE EFFORTS HAVE WORKED.

WE PRIORITIZE GETTING CHILDREN SAFELY BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE'VE MADE AVAILABLE AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF PPE AND TESTING.

AND WE'VE MADE SAFE EFFECTIVE AND FREE VACCINES AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE AGES 5 AND UP.

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AND 75% OF ADULTS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE SHOT IN OUR STATE.

WE ENDED NORTH CAROLINA STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE LAST SPRING.

AND WE'VE RELIED ON LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

AND FOR THE MOST PART THEY HAVE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND SAVE LIVES UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE OMICRON VARIANT OF THIS VIRUS OVERRAN THE NATION QUICKLY.

JUST ABOUT AS FAST AS THE NUMBERS PEAKED.

THEY'RE FALLING.

THIS VARIANT IS CLEARLY MORE CONTAGIOUS.

YET GENERALLY CAUSES LESS SEVERE ILLNESS PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

AND NOW PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GAUGE THEIR LEVEL OF RISK.

AND DECIDE HOW TO BEST PROTECT THEMSELVES.

AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE FACTORS.

I ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO END THEIR MASK MANDATES.

IN A FEW MINUTES OUR NORTH CAROLINA SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, KODY KINSLEY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LATEST SCHOOL GUIDANCE FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS ON MASK.

THEY'RE RECOMMENDED PATH TO ENDING REQUIREMENTS.

AND THE LATEST COVID DATA.

PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS.

THERE ARE STILL SOME PLACES SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, LONG-TERM CARE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WEAR A MASK WILL STILL BE REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE SETTING OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH THIS VIRUS IS A REALITY WE ALL CONTINUE TO FACE.

SOME PEOPLE INCLUDING ME WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WEARING A MASK WHEN THEY'RE IN CROWDS FOR EXAMPLE.

PARENTS MIGHT STILL WANT THEIR CHILDREN WEARING A MASK INSIDE SCHOOL.

BUSINESSES MIGHT WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS TO WEAR A MASK.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE PANDEMIC IT'S RIGHT FOR THEM TO MAKE THESE CHOICES IN MOST SITUATIONS.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS VACCINES PROVIDE THE STRONGEST PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH FROM THIS VIRUS.

IT IS THE UNVACCINATED WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE VAST MAJORITY OF COVID DEATHS.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS DUE TO COVID.

NOW WE TAKE A POSITIVE STEP ON MASK REQUIREMENTS TO HELP US MOVE SAFELY TOWARD A MORE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

AND I KNOW WE ALL WANT THAT.

NOW I WILL RECOGNIZE.

KODY KINSLEY OUR SECRETARY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON OUR COVID DATA IN OUR POLICY CHANGES.

SECRETARY KINSLEY.

>> THANK YOU GOVERNOR COOPER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER TODAY.

AND SO LET'S FIRST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TRENDS AND THAT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT OUR GUIDANCE.

THE FIRST GRAPH LOOKS AT PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH COVID LIKE SYMPTOMS.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR COVID-19.

>> THE YELLOW LINE WHICH REPRESENTS THIS YEAR SHOWS THE STEEP DECLINE IN COVID LIKE ILLNESS.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

WE LOOK AT NEW COVID CASES.

THIS GRAPH SHOWS YOU THE TRAJECTORY OF NEW CASES EACH DAY SINCE WE HAD OUR FIRST CASE IN MARCH OF 2020.

OUR FIRST MAJOR PEAK IN CASES WAS BACK IN JANUARY OF 2021.

BEFORE VACCINES WERE WIDELY AVAILABLE.

THE SECOND PEAK IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WAS THE RESULT OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE OMICRON VARIANT DROVE THE RAPID INCREASE IN LATE DECEMBER AND EARLY JANUARY DWARFING THE PREVIOUS SURGES.

LET'S ZOOM IN AND LOOK AT JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS ON THIS GRAPH WE'RE LOOKING AT CASES FROM DECEMBER THROUGH TODAY.

YOU CAN SEE THE CASES HAVE COME DOWN SHARPLY OVER THE PAST MONTH.

WE LOOK AT THE PERCENT OF TESTS THAT ARE POSITIVE THIS GRAPH GOES BACK TO DECEMBER.

LOOKING AT THE YELLOW LINE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PERCENT OF TESTS THERE WERE POSITIVE WAS ABOVE 30% MOST DAYS FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS BEFORE DECLINING TO NOW 10.6%.

WHILE WE CAN GET IMPORTANT TREND INFORMATION FROM THIS GRAPH THIS METRIC ONLY INCLUDES PCR TESTS.

THE RISE OF ANTIGEN TESTING INCLUDING AT-HOME TESTING MAKES THIS METRIC LESS RELIABLE AND ONE WE MAY MOVE AWAY FROM IN THE COMING MONTHS.

OUR NEXT GRAPH WE LOOK AT DAY OVER DAY HOSPITALIZATIONS BEGINNING IN MID DECEMBER.

THE YELLOW LINE SHOWS AN INCREASE TO JANUARY WITH NUMBERS STARTING TO COME BACK DOWN IN FEBRUARY.

THE JANUARY NUMBERS SET HOSPITALIZATION RECORDS FOR THE PANDEMIC IT'S GOOD TO SEE THOSE COMING DOWN AGAIN.

MOST OF THOSE HOSPITALIZED AND THOSE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CONTINUE TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT VACCINATIONS.

75% OF THOSE 18 AND OLDER HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AS HAVE 96% OF THOSE 65 AND OLDER, WE'VE WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST BY THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS VACCINES.

IN NORTH CAROLINA, SLIGHTLY MORE PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC HAVE I HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE THAN THOSE WHO ARE NON-HISPANIC.

WE'VE ALSO NARROWED THE GAP BETWEEN THE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN AND WHITE POPULATIONS AND FOR SOME AGE GROUPS WE'VE ELIMINATED THE GAP ENTIRELY.

THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE DOSE IS BROKEN DOWN BY AGE ON THE SLIDE.

THOSE WHO ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO COVID-19 BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE HAVE EXCELLENT VACCINATION RATES 97% FOR THOSE OVER 75.

AS WE CONTINUE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

WE KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT AGAINST THE MOST SEVERE CASES RESEARCH THROUGH THE DELTA AND OMICRON SURGES SHOWED THAT VACCINES CONTINUE TO WORK AND THAT BOOSTER DOSES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL PROTECTION.

OF THOSE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, 95% HAVE NOT RECEIVED A BOOSTER.

AS OF TODAY 51% OF PEOPLE 18 AND OLDER WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER DOSE FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER THAT 70%.

AS WE EMERGE FROM THE LATEST SURGE.

THE COVID-19 LANDSCAPE LOOKS DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT DID 2 YEARS AGO, OR EVEN 2 MONTHS AGO.

WE HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS AND NOW HAVE SEVERAL EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT REDUCE THE RISK FOR PEOPLE.

VACCINES AND BOOSTERS ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE AND HAVE PROTECTED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS.

HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE.

AND THIS WEEK.

WE EXPANDED THE STANDING ORDER.

SO MORE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THESE TREATMENTS AND AS I SHARED TODAY, OUR TRENDS ARE DECREASING LOWERING THE RISK OF INFECTION AND IMPROVING HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

THEREFORE AS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE WILL BE ADOPTING OUR RESPONSE BASED ON THE DATA AND FOR THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AS THE GOVERNOR SHARED.

IF OUR TRENDS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE BEGINNING MARCH 7TH, SCHOOLS AND OTHER LOW RISK SETTINGS CAN CONSIDER MOVING TO VOLUNTARY MASKING AT THE DISCRETION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT SCHOOLS PROMOTE VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND THAT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN OUR TESTING PROGRAM.

HIGH-RISK SETTINGS LIKE LONG-TERM CARE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH CARE SETTINGS SHOULD CONTINUE TO REQUIRE MASKS AND FOLLOW ALL CDC GUIDELINES.

REGARDLESS OF THE SETTING YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK IF YOU'RE AT HIGH RISK OF DISEASE.

IF YOU HAVE A COVID INFECTION OR A KNOWN EXPOSURE OR IF YOU'RE NOT UP TO DATE WITH THEIR VACCINES.

BECAUSE WELL-FITTING MASKS LIKE A KN 95, WHERE N 95 PROVIDE AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION.

PEOPLE MISUSED STILL CHOOSE TO WEAR THEM.

THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU'LL SEE ME WEARING A MASK LIKE A CROWDED INDOOR EVENT.

MY COMFORT LEVEL MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

OUR GOAL IS TO USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ALL GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCES IN PLACES WE LOVE.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS ARE VACCINES AND BOOSTERS.

EVERYONE 5 AND OLDER SHOULD GET A COVID-19 VACCINE.

AND EVERYONE 12 AND OLDER SHOULD GET A BOOSTER AS SOON AS THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.

OUR OTHER GUIDANCE IS STILL IN PLACE.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS ARE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 GET TESTED AND STAY AWAY FROM OTHERS IF YOU'RE SICK OR TEST POSITIVE.

GET TREATMENT EARLY IF YOU'RE AT HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS.

WE'RE ANNOUNCING THESE UPCOMING CHANGES NOW.

SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO GET PREPARED.

AND GET UP TO DATE WITH THEIR COVID-19 VACCINES AND BOOSTERS.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT.

AND WE'LL RESPOND TO CHANGES IN THE VIRUS SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NORTH CAROLINIANS.

IF YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED YET PLEASE TALK TO A DOCTOR NURSE OR OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR GO TO RELIABLE ONLINE HEALTH RESOURCES LIKE THE CDC OR MY SPOT DOT NC .GOV TO BE SURE YOU'RE GETTING ACCURATE INFORMATION.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO VACCINATE GO TO MY SPOT THAT NC .GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.

GOVERNOR COOPER?

>> THANK YOU SECRETARY KINSLEY.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S BEEN PARTICULARLY TOUGH ON PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN.

IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON GETTING OUR CHILDREN A GOOD EDUCATION AND IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS.

NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT MASK.

NORTH CAROLINIANS HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM WITH THE RESILIENCE THAT HAS ALWAYS DEFINED US.

AS WE CONTINUE TO SHAKE THE COBWEBS OF THIS VIRUS AND WORK TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

OUR EYES ARE ON A VERY BRIGHT HORIZON.

ALREADY WE'RE EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

FROM A PLACE OF STRENGTH.

WITH RECORD JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS BOOMING STATE REVENUES AND TRULY LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS.

WITH ME TODAY ALONG WITH SECRETARY KINSLEY IS OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL RAY.

OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY EDDIE BUFFALO.

WE ALSO HAVE DOCTOR SUSAN KANSAGRA WHO IS WITH US TODAY.

AND WE ALSO HAD JACKIE AND JASMINE METIVIER WHO ARE OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND LEE WILLIAMSON AS OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER.

WE'LL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA.

JUST OKAY.

LET'S GET WANTING MIGHT NOT.

>> IS THE.

>> GOVERNORS THIS EFFECT TO THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AT ALL.

AS FAR AS TIMELINE ON THAT.

>> THAT IS STILL IN PLACE WE ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE IT.

IT IS PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED FLEXIBILITIES TO OUR HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

IT'S ALSO HELPING US GET VACCINES TO PEOPLE AND A FASTER MORE EFFECTIVE WAY.

WE MAY TALK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT PUTTING SOME THINGS INTO LAW PERMANENTLY.

SO WE CAN CONSIDER ENDING THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHERE WE STILL ARE.

>> AND THEN >> YOU MEAN ABOUT LIKE WHAT THE HOSPITALS NEED AND SOME LIKE THAT'S RIGHT PASSES.

I MEAN I THINK WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HEALTH CARE'S HAD TO CHANGE IN THE WAY THEY APPROACH THINGS.

AND WE'VE HAD TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO BE ABLE TO CROSS OVER AND DO THINGS THEY NEED TO DO THAT THEY UNDER THE STATUTE MIGHT NECESSARILY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO BUT EVERYBODY PRETTY MUCH AGREES THAT THEY CAN DO AND THAT IS WHAT THE EMERGENCY ORDER HAS ALLOWED THEM TO DO.

SO WE HOPE THAT WE CAN GET SOME PERMANENT CHANGES IN THE LAW.

HELP US RESPOND TO THIS PANDEMIC AND FUTURE HEALTH SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

DO YOU >> I MEAN IT'S IT'S BEEN UP TO THE SCHOOL BOARD'S.

BUT WHAT IF THE SCHOOL BOARDS DON'T WANT TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATE COME FROM MARK CENTER.

LOOK I THINK LOCAL CONTROL IS IMPORTANT HERE.

>> AND WE PASSED THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW AND I SIGNED IT GIVING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND I THINK THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONTROL.

TODAY.

I'M ENCOURAGING THEM TO END MASK REQUIREMENTS.

I THINK MOST ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE GOING TO CONSIDER IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THEM TO DO.

>> SO LIKE JUST AS YOU START TALKING, I THINK THE SENATE TOOK ITS VOTE ON THE SCHOOL'S MASK BILL DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'LL SIGN THAT LEGISLATION LIKE I DON'T EVEN I KNOW THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING TODAY AND THAT THEY'RE VERY FRANTIC ABOUT IT.

FROM WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT I HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT'S UNWISE AND IRRESPONSIBLE.

I MEAN ARE WE GOING TO LET.

>> PEOPLE PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH PUBLIC HEALTH RULES ARE GOING TO FOLLOW I'LL REVIEW IT IF THEY PASS IT AND I SEE IT.

BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT I'VE HEARD.

>> WHY IF THIS IS LOCAL CONTROL Y.

>> WHAT DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING TODAY FOR LIKE THE MAYORS OR COUNTY OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE THAT STILL HAVE THESE THAT ARE LISTENING AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS.

IF IT'S IF IT'S UP TO THEM ANYWAY DO YOU THINK THEY JUST NEED THAT.

TO HEAR THAT FROM YOU OR WHAT WHAT'S WHAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND SEN. >> THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE A VALUE WEIGHTED WHERE WE ARE.

IN THIS PANDEMIC LOOKING AT THE DATA AND UPDATING THEIR GUIDANCE.

THIS COOL TOOL KIT PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS.

AND IT HAS IN THE PAST STRONGLY URGED MASK MANDATES FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THAT'S BEEN THE RIGHT THING THAT'S BEEN A POSITIVE THING.

BUT WE'RE AT THE POINT IN THE PANDEMIC WHERE THE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY.

THAT LIFTING THOSE MASK MANDATES MAY BE THE RIGHT THING FOR THEM TO DO THAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THAT.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT THAT GUIDANCE.

AND I THINK MAKE THOSE POSITIVE DECISIONS THAT WILL NOT ONLY HELP US TO REFOCUS ON LEARNING AND GETTING OUR SCHOOLS WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE I KNOW IT'S BEEN SO TOUGH ON PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALL OF THEM ARE FRUSTRATING.

AND WE WANT OT FRUSTRATED AND WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO DAY-TO-DAY LIVING A NORMAL LIFE AS SOON AS WE CAN.

>> AS THE MARCH 7TH DATE.

I MEAN LOOK AT THAT'S LIKE IF SOMEBODY ISN'T THEIR KID IS UNVACCINATED JET AND IS IS THAT THE TIMELINE RELATED TO THAT WITH THE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT OR IS IT JUST SO THE BOARDS CAN MEET OR WHAT'S WHAT'S THE TIMELINE.

>> SO A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE HAVE ALREADY DONE AWAY WITH THEIR MASK REQUIREMENTS, A NUMBER OF SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THEIR MASK REQUIREMENTS.

THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

I'M I'M GONNA LET SECRETARY KINSLEY TALK ABOUT.

WHY THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS WORDED THE WAY IT IS SO SECRETARY CANCELED.

>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION AND AS YOU SAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'VE SET THIS TIMELINE IS BOTH SO THAT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT UP TO DATE ON THEIR VACCINATION OR PERHAPS AREN'T VACCINATED YET CAN START THAT PROCESS VACCINES ARE OUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOL.

BUT ALSO SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS FOR SCHOOL BOARDS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE WITH OUR NEW UPDATED GUIDANCE AS THEY NAVIGATE AND CONSIDER THOSE DECISIONS BUT AS THE GOVERNOR SAID WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FOR THEM TO TAKE THE STEP FORWARD.

>> I'M ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU CERTAIN AND THEN A TEST OF MR. ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC THERE >> THE LABOR SHORTAGES OF ARE YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY ACUTE AT DHHS AN ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN AREAS.

WHAT WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR FOR ADDRESSING THAT SO THE WORKERS THAT ARE STILL THERE.

AREN'T AREN'T LOOKING TO LEAVE OR WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> WELL THANK YOU FOR RAISING THIS AND YOUR FOR YOUR FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE YOU KNOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN I'M INCREDIBLY TREACHEROUS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES SINCE THE BEGINNING AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THEM.

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY IN THE STATE OF THE STEPPED UP AND TAKEN A VACCINE IS A STRATEGY TO HELP PROTECT THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS FACILITIES AS YOU KNOW WE'VE SEEN A SKYROCKETING INCREASING OUR VACANCIES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR NURSES.

WE ARE WORKING AGGRESSIVELY TO TRY TO SUPPORT THEM EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN WITH EVERY FLEXIBILITY THAT WE HAVE.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US TO WORK ON IN THE NEAR TERM.

BUT ALSO FOR THE LONG TERM WE'RE ON BORROWED TIME IN NORTH CAROLINA AROUND OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

WE HAD A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS READY FOR RETIREMENT.

THIS IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR ME LOOKING AHEAD BUILDING A STRONG AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE, SOMETHING BOTH FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

BUT BROADLY IN EMPLOYMENT SECTOR.

>> WHAT WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW TODAY LIKE OF ANY SORT OF CHANGES THAT ARE COMING WELL.

>> I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BOARDS AND THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM AND WE LOOK FOR RIGHT NOW THE HEARING ABOUT FROM OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT I MEAN IN THE SHORT TERM A LOT OF THE FLEXIBILITIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE AS PART OF THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SPEAKING TO ARE HELPING WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE THOSE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> SECRETARY DOCTOR JOHN CAMP WITH ABC 11.

GOVERNOR FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IS AS YOU MENTIONED THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT FOR MANY MONTHS.

YOU DELEGATE ADD THIS TO THE LOCAL OFFICIALS CITY COUNCILS COUNTY COMMISSION SCHOOL BOARDS.

YOU COULD HAVE STILL DONE THAT.

WHAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING THAT YOU DECIDED TO PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE SCALE WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

>> WELL HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO SCHOOL BOARDS ALL ALONG AND IN FACT THE 2 KIT HAS BEEN VERY DETAILED ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLS OUGHT TO BE DOING AND IT STILL IS THERE OTHER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THAT SCHOOLS ARE TAKING TO KEEP TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, SAFE.

SO MASKS JUST ONE OF THOSE ISSUES AND IT'S IT'S ONE THAT I THINK IT'S TIME TO END.

THOSE GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS ON ON MASK AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS WILL DO SO.

>> I WANT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME CLARITY HERE BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED MARCH 7TH AS WHEN THE TOOL KIT IS GOING TO BE UPDATED WHERE YOU ENCOURAGE ALL SCHOOLS TO LIFT THE MANDATE BY MARCH 7TH.

WHAT ABOUT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

DO YOU WANT THEM TO ROLL BACK.

THEIR MASK MANDATES RIGHT NOW SHOULD RALEIGH MAYOR MARY-ANN BALDWIN MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT SHE WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK NEXT MONTH.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALREADY ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS TO TO KIT IS BEING UPDATED NOW.

BUT I'LL LET SECRETARY KINSLEY TALK ABOUT AGAIN THE MARCH 7TH DAY.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION JOHN A.

>> THE MARCH 7TH DAY WILL BE WHEN WE UPDATE ALL OF OUR GUIDANCE WILL BE UPDATING OUR GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS AS WE MENTIONED AND ALSO CHILDCARE BUT ALSO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE RECOMMENDING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THAT RIGHT NOW UNIVERSAL MASKING IS NOT THE STRATEGY.

THE VACCINES ARE MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGY IN THOSE SETTINGS AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE THAT WILL BE KEEPING IN PLACE, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH-RISK SETTINGS THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIVERSAL MASKING HEALTH CARE LONG-TERM CARE ET CETERA SO WE'RE TYING ALL THESE THINGS TO MARCH 7TH.

WE WATCH OUR CASES DECLINING GIVING PEOPLE TIME TO GET VACCINATED AND THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ABOUT WHAT TO DO FOR THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> AND SECRETARY IF YOU CAN ALSO CLARIFY YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT CHILD CARE SO FOR PRESCHOOLS AND EARLY EDUCATION, THE SAME GUIDANCE WILL APPLY FOR K 12 SCHOOLS AND FOR PRESCHOOLS THAT ENCOURAGE OPTIONAL MASKING NO LATER THAN MARCH 7TH, YES.

>> DOCTOR KANSAGRA RIGHT OK, THANK YOU IF I CAN ASK YOU BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING THAT I'VE HEARD FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS THEY LOOK AT THE CDC GUIDANCE NOW WE HEARD EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THE CDC, THE TALKING ABOUT UPDATING THEIR GUIDANCE BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

SO.

WHY ISN'T WHY ARE YOU CONFIDENT WHY OUR MEDICAL EXPERTS CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE IF THE CDC HAS MADE THIS UPDATE YET.

>> WELL TURN THINGS OVER THE ARKANSAS RIVER IN JUST A SECOND BUT BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE HAVING LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS I THINK AS WE WENT THROUGH THE OMICRON WAVE AND AS I MENTIONED WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE WERE 2 MONTHS AGO.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SEEN THE LEVELS BY WHICH THAT CASES PER 100,000 METRIC DOESN'T STRIKE AS MEANINGFUL IN THIS CURRENT MOMENT OF THE OF THE VIRUS HAS BEFORE WHICH IS WHY WE'RE MOVING IN THIS OTHER DIRECTION AS WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR TRENDS AND ALL OF OUR TOOLS IN CONCERT BUT AND ARKANSAS TO SPEAK A BIT MORE ABOUT CASES.

>> THANKS SECRETARY THANKS JENNIFER.

THE QUESTION.

YES, YOU KNOW.

THE CDC IS ALSO LOOKING AT THEIR GUIDANCE, WE KNOW CERTAINLY WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OMICRON IN THESE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IS THAT ON A CON IS A LESS SEVERE BOUGHT VIRUS RECEIVE MILDER ILLNESS AND BECAUSE OF THAT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT TRANSMISSION IS NOW SHIFTING TO REALLY LOOKING AT DISEASE BURDEN AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS HE SEES LOOKING AT HOW MUCH IS THIS IMPACTING OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS.

HOW MUCH ARE WE SEEING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THAT'S REALLY THE SHIFT IN METRICS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR GUIDANCE WE'RE SEEING AGAIN POSITIVE TRENDS.

THE HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE COME DOWN BY ALMOST HALF IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND CERTAINLY OUR CASES ARE COMING DOWN RAPIDLY AS WELL SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS WE'RE SEEING TRENDS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN CONTINUE TO MOVE AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW VACCINES AND TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE ESPECIALLY AROUND OUR TREATMENTS ACCESSIBILITY AND SO THOSE ARE ALL TRENDS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.

>> IF YOU BRING BACK YOU WENT THROUGH THAT A DATA METRICS SLIDE SHOW ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS THERE WAS QUITE A CURVE WITH VACCINATIONS THE YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC.

THE LESS VACCINATED THEY WERE CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGY NOW FOR REACHING THOSE YOUNGER AMERICANS WHERE MANY PARENTS FEEL AS YOU JUST SAID THANK GOD, IT'S NOT REALLY PEDIATRIC DISEASE.

WHAT IS THE CASE FOR VACCINATING IF IT MAYBE DOESN'T REDUCE TRANSMISSION.

AND MOST ABLE-BODIED HEALTHY CHILDREN ARE NOT GETTING SEVERE CASES.

>> WELL I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO DOCTOR KANSAGRA AS WELL, BUT JUST AGAIN EMPHASIZE THAT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS, 5 AND ABOVE THAT VACCINES ARE BOTH SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND WHAT WE KNOW FROM OUR RESEARCH AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS THAT THE CONTINUED EMPHASIS TO MAKING SURE THAT VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR DOCTORS OFFICES THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND SO WE'LL STAY FOCUSED ON OPERATIONALLY ENSURING THAT THOSE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE THERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THIS.

BUT DR. KANSAGRA?

>> THANKS SECRETARY AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT SO YOU KNOW WE'RE DOING A FEW THINGS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY AGAIN CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE VACCINES AND BOOSTERS FOR THOSE THAT ARE AROUND CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE YET AND CERTAINLY FOR 5 AND UP CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE VACCINES AND BOOSTER AND THE OTHER THE OTHER THING IS REALLY ENSURING THAT OUR PEDIATRICIANS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADMINISTER COVID VACCINE IN THE MEDICAL HOME WENT UP.

IF THE CHILD IS GOING IN FOR THEIR VISIT AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW PEDIATRICIANS ARE A TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR PARENTS.

THEY'RE THEY'RE ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE CHILDREN ARE READY GO FOR ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS AND SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE PEDIATRICIANS HAVE A VIAL IN THEIR FRIDGE SAY THAT THEY ARE READY TO ADMINISTER THE VACCINE.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT PERCENTAGE IS SO LOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC THE CHILDREN ABOVE 5.

>> IS THE MESSAGE NOT RESONATING TO PEOPLE NOT THINK IT'S NECESSARY AND IF THEY DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

>> WHAT'S THE MESSAGE TO THEM WHY SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY.

>> YEAH, YOU CERTAINLY WE ARE SEEING A LOWER LOWER VACCINATION RATES IN OUR YOUNGER AGE GROUPS AND THAT'S WHERE YOU KNOW WE'RE DOING WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN THAT PARENTS ARE GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM TRUSTED SOURCES AND ONE OF THE MAIN TRUSTED SOURCES AS PEDIATRICIANS AND SO WE'RE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THAT AGE GROUP BECAUSE WE KNOW WHILE THEY HAVE LOWER RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS THAT DOES OCCUR FROM TIME TO TIME AND CERTAINLY WE'RE ALSO SEEING OTHER IMPACTS LIKE LONG COVID A NEWS IMPACT CHILDREN TOO SO IT'S STILL REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET CHILDREN VACCINATED WE'RE CONTINUING TO SHARE THAT MESSAGE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS TRUSTED PARTNERS LIKE OUR PEDIATRICIANS HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE IT.

GOVERNOR LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

>> I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO ASK ME TO ANSWER THAT.

THAT THE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN STARTED LATER.

I MEAN WE WE WE HAVE THE VACCINES COME OUT EARLY BEEN 65 AND OVER THE MOST VULNERABLE.

THEY'VE BEEN GETTING VACCINATED A LONG TIME.

IT'S IT'S BEEN LATER ON IN THE PROCESS WHERE VACCINES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD AS DOCTOR KANSAGRA AND SECRETARY KINSLEY SAID TO MAKE SURE WE GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNGER PEOPLE BUT GO AHEAD I WAS I WAS GOING MAKE A QUIP ABOUT I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR INBOX TO KNOW THE PRESSURE YOU'VE BEEN UNDER I'M CURIOUS YOUR THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION.

DID YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES GOVERNOR HOCHUL NEW YORK GOVERNOR WOLF AND PENNSYLVANIA.

ARE SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES.

GOVERNOR LAMONT IN CONNECTICUT ARE THE GOVERNOR PRITZKER IN ILLINOIS.

DID YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE FELLOW DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AND WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU IF YOU DID HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

SO I'M ON THE PHONE WITH GOVERNORS OF BOTH PARTIES FREQUENTLY USUALLY AT LEAST.

>> ONCE A WEEK.

AND YET THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT HIS MASK MANDATES.

AND A NUMBER OF THE STATES IN THE NORTH-EAST HAVE JUST REMOVED THEIR STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE, ALTHOUGH WE'VE DONE THAT LATER, BUT YET THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ALONG WITH STRATEGIES TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED.

SO WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I THINK ON THE PHONE.

>> OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM ASHLEY TALLEY OF WRAL.

>> I THINK THAT TAKING MY QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HEARD MULTIPLE MENTION WHAT YOU ARE UP TO DATE ON ALL VACCINES WHICH I THINK UH THAT'S WHERE I DRAW THE PEAK MEAN THE BALL.

>> SO WITH THAT I WONDERED IF YOU ARE GOING TO REVISIT YOUR THE BATTING ORDER FOR STATE EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED WILL THEY BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT AS WELL.

>> SO FIRST WE WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET A BOOSTER TO GET A BOOSTER.

THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING PARTICULARLY WITH THIS OMICRON VARIANT THAT IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED THAT YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS.

HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH SO LET'S START THERE.

SECONDLY WE ARE LOOKING AT THE STATE EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET BOOSTERS AND WILL CONSIDER THAT AS WE GO FURTHER AND GET INPUT FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS AND I DON'T KNOW IF SECRETARY KEN SEELEY WE'RE GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THAT ISSUE.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> CALL UP ACTUALLY TALLY BUT WRAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT AND THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE MARKED A SECURITY FIRM.

BUT YOU SAID THAT YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SAY ABOUT THE POSITIVITY RATE AS ONE OF THE MEASUREMENTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

THERE ARE SOME MONEY AT HIM PASS GOING ON DO YOU THINK THAT IS YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF US.

POSITIVE TESTS AMONG THE MOST THAT YOU KNOW ARE NOT BEING REPORTED TO THE STATE.

>> SO I KNOW THAT TESTING IS IMPORTANT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE TESTING BUT I'LL LET SECRETARY KINSLEY ADDRESS THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY.

>> YES THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AS WE OUTLINED IS NUMBER OF METRICS THAT WE LOOKED AT AND REALLY TRENDS ACROSS THOSE METRICS IS NOT GOING TO BE ANYONE THAT IS PARTICULARLY MORE VALUABLE THAN ANOTHER, BUT LOOKING AT ACROSS ALL OF THEM IN CONCERT AND AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING AT OUR SUPPLY OF VACCINES ARE SUPPLY OF TREATMENT BUT HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO RESPOND IN EACH PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC TO YOUR POINT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CASES AND TESTING WHILE TESTING IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR YOU TO KNOW HOW TO MAYBE CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR AT HOME.

YES, WE'RE AT A PLACE NOW WHERE A LOT OF THE AT-HOME TESTS ARE NOT BEING REPORTED TO US AND SO THAT WHILE WE GET SOME INFORMATION FROM THAT TREND LINE OF THE TEST OVERALL IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT TO US AS OTHER METRICS SUCH AS OR COVID LIKE ILLNESS SYNDROME MAKE SURVEILLANCE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, IT'S MORE OF A PASSIVE METRIC OR EVEN INTO NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES NATIONALLY THAT'S INVESTED IN BUILDING OUT WASTEWATER MONITORING ANOTHER PASSIVE METRIC THAT ALLOWS US TO GET A SENSE OF THE TREND AND DIRECTIONALITY OF COVID IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THOSE METRICS GIVE US REALLY EARLY INDICATIONS ALONG WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS AND TRAGICALLY DEATHS TO GET A MORE HOLISTIC VIEW THAT'S A LITTLE EASIER FOR US TO GET THE PICTURE OF EVERYTHING THANK YOU.

>> NEXT QUESTION PLEASE?

>> OUR FINAL QUESTION THAT WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S BRIEFING IS FROM FROM SAMIAR NEFZI WITH WLOS.

>> HEY THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.

GOVERNOR GUESTS KNOW THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS SOMEWHAT LEFT AND THE METRICS BELLINGER AT LEAST TRENDING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION CAN WE THEY WERE STARTING TO IT ENTER AND ENDEMIC PHASE.

WHAT IF YOUR TEAM REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT TO THE SECRETARY AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, BUT WE ARE GETTING A BETTER AND BETTER PLACE HERE WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND THE THING I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS WE KNOW HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINES AND BOOSTERS OF THE BEST PROTECTION.

BUT EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF BASED ON WHAT LAYER OF RISK THAT YOU HAVE AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC PUBLIC CONTINUE TO WORK ON GETTING VACCINES AND I'LL LET YOU COMMENT SECTOR CANCELING WHAT KIND OF FACE WE'RE IN.

>> THANK YOU GOVERNOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YOU KNOW ENDEMIC IS REALLY THE CONCEPT OF BEING IN EQUILIBRIUM OR BALANCE OVER TIME.

RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH COVID THERE CAN BE CURVE BALLS AND VARIANCE THAT REALLY CREATE PUSHES IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION OVER TIME.

BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE TO LEARN WITH REGARD TO THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF THIS VIRUS.

THE TOOLS WE HAVE IN PLACE TO RESPOND TO IT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PREPARE ENDEMIC IS ABOUT BEING PREPARED TO MANAGE OVERALL OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME AND SO WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

BUT OUR DEPARTMENT REMAINS INCREDIBLY COMMITTED TO TAKING EACH SUCCESSIVE STEP GIVING NORTH CAROLINIANS THE BEST INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES OF COURSE STARTING WITH VACCINATIONS AND THEN AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO OTHER PHASES.

THANK YOU.

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.