>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S UPDATE ON COVID-19.

AS OF TODAY WE HAVE HAD 849,630 CONFIRMED CASES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

3,346 CASES REPORTED SINCE YESTERDAY.

1530 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SADLY 11,074 PEOPLE 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 THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

WHO'VE DIED.

BUT DESPITE THESE GRIM STATISTICS.

WE HAVE REASON FOR HOPE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK.

FEWER NEEDING A HOSPITAL.

ALL THE METRICS THAT WE MEASURE CONTINUE TO STABILIZE.

MORE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING LIFESAVING VACCINES EVERY DAY AND IN FACT MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE 65 AND OVER IN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT RACE AND ETHNICITY VACCINATION RATES REFLECT OUR POPULATION AND THAT WE ARE REACHING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

AND 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 ONE IN 2.

THAT IS PEOPLE AGE 65 AND UP.

AND OUR FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

ON MARCH 10TH, 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 HARD 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 THE SECOND 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 SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE STATE I'VE TOLD LEGISLATORS THAT I WOULD SIGN A BILL LIKE SENATE BILL 37 THAT THEY JUST PASSED REQUIRING CHILDREN TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.

AS LONG AS THEY FIXED IT TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO FOLLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GUIDANCE AND TO PRESERVE EMERGENCY AUTHORITY FOR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ON OUR COVID-19 METRICS.

AFTER ALARMINGLY HIGH NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER HOLIDAYS.

NORTH CAROLINA'S TRENDS HAVE DECLINED IN STABILIZED.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST POINT SINCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

THE PERCENT OF TESTS RETURNING POSITIVE CONTINUES TO DECLINE.

THIS IS ENCOURAGING AND I'LL ASK DOCTOR MANDY COHEN OUR SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO TALK MORE ABOUT OUR COVID-19 METRICS.

HOW THEN WALK THROUGH WHAT THESE DEVELOPMENTS MEAN FOR THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SET TO EXPIRE IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

DOCTOR COHEN.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

>> AS GOVERNOR COOPER SAID WE HAVE USED DATA THROUGHOUT OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE TO GUIDE OUR ACTIONS.

IT'S GUIDED THE DIMMER SWITCH APPROACH WE'VE TAKEN AND INFORMED HOW WE'VE DEPLOYED OUR RESOURCES TO THIS RESPONSE EFFORT.

NORTH CAROLINIANS CAN BE PROUD THAT OUR STATE CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR ITS DATA QUALITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

THIS PAST WEEK BLOOMBERG NEWS SCORED NORTH CAROLINA HAS THE BEST IN THE NATION.

ON VACCINE RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA QUALITY.

IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THAT OUR REPORTING OF RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA IS NEARLY 100% FOR PEOPLE VACCINATED IN THE STATE.

LET'S GET TO OUR DATA FOR TODAY.

THIS FIRST GRAPH LOOKS AT PEOPLE WHO'VE COME TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH COVID LIKE SYMPTOMS IS OUR EARLIEST DETECTION MECHANISM AND YOU CAN SEE WHEN LOOKING AT THAT YELLOW LINE CONTINUES TO TREND DOWNWARD.

NEXT WE LOOK AT OUR NEW CASES THIS FIRST GRAPH SHOWS YOU THE TRAJECTORY OF NEW CASES EACH DAY SINCE WE HAD OUR FIRST CASE BACK IN MARCH AND LOOK AT THE YELLOW LINE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CASES ARE DECREASING SINCE ITS PEAK IN JANUARY.

NEW CASE RATES ARE BACK DOWN TO LEVELS THEY WERE IN OCTOBER.

THIS NEXT GRAPH NARROWS IN ON THAT TRAJECTORY OF CASES OVER JUST THE LAST 2 MONTHS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT CASES HAVE BEEN DECLINING SINCE THEIR PEAK ON JANUARY, THE 10TH.

NEXT WE LOOK AT THE PERCENT OF TESTS THAT ARE POSITIVE.

THIS GRAPH GOES BACK TO THE END OF DECEMBER AND LOOKING AGAIN AT THAT YELLOW LINE OR PERCENT OF POSITIVE TESTS IS CONTINUING TO DECREASE AND IT AT ABOUT 6 TO 7% CLOSER TO THAT 5% GOAL.

ON OUR NEXT GRAPH WE LOOK AT DAY OVER DAY HOSPITALIZATIONS THIS GRAPH ALSO STARTS IN LATE DECEMBER AND YOU CAN SEE LOOKING AT THE YELLOW LINE AT THIS TREND IS DECREASING HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOW BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE IN MID NOVEMBER.

NOW THEY'RE STILL HIGH BUT SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THEY WERE JUST A MONTH AGO.

SO OVERALL HERE IS WHERE WE ARE SURVEILLANCE STATE IS DECREASING BUT STILL ABOVE BASELINE TO GET A YELLOW LINE.

NORTH CAROLINA TRAJECTORY OF CASES IS DECREASING.

HOWEVER CASES REMAIN ELEVATED AND WITH THOSE NEW COVID VARIANCE IN THE STATE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR GUARD UP IT GETS A YELLOW LINE.

NORTH CAROLINA TRAJECTORY IN PERCENT OF TESTS RETURNING POSITIVE IS DECREASING BUT STILL ABOVE 5%.

SO THIS ALSO GETS A YELLOW LINE AND NORTH CAROLINA'S TRAJECTORY OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IS DECREASING BUT STILL ELEVATED A GETS A YELLOW LINE.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTIES AS A REMINDER THE COVID-19 COUNTY ALERT SYSTEM USES A COMBINATION OF 3 METRICS TO CATEGORIZE COUNTIES.

WE USE CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE OVER 14 DAYS.

PERCENT OF TESTS THAT ARE POSITIVE AND A COMPOSITE HOSPITAL IMPACT SCORE.

WE THEN USE THOSE METRICS TO COMBINE THEM TOGETHER AND CATEGORIZE COUNTIES INTO 3 COLOR TEARS TO DESCRIBE THEIR LEVEL OF VIRAL SPREAD AND HEALTH CARE CAPACITY IMPACT.

RED IS CRITICAL AMOUNT TO SPREAD ORANGE STANSELL YELLOW IS SIGNIFICANT.

NOW THIS SLIDE SHOWS AN UPDATED COUNTY ALERT MAP.

AGAIN WE SEE GOOD PROGRESS.

27 COUNTIES ARE RED WITH CRITICAL SPREAD.

BUT THAT'S DOWN FROM 61 COUNTIES THAT WERE READ JUST 2 WEEKS AGO.

40 COUNTIES ARE ORANGE WITH SUBSTANTIAL SPREAD AND 33 COUNTIES ARE YELLOW.

LOOKING AT THE PAST COUNTY ALERT MAPS YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BOTTOM MAP SHOWS THE FEWEST RED COUNTIES IN THE STATE SINCE THE START OF OUR COUNTY ALERT SYSTEM.

HOWEVER WE STILL HAVE MORE THAN HALF OF OUR COUNTIES IN EITHER THE RED OR THE ORANGE.

SO WHILE WE'RE IMPROVING SINCE OUR PEAK IN JANUARY WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

WITH NORTH CAROLINIANS CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THE 3 W'S AND MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE HAVING RECEIVED AT LEAST A FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE.

WE ARE SLOWING THE SPREAD AND SAVING LIVES.

AT THE SAME TIME WE FACE A NEW CHALLENGE.

THOSE NEW COVID-19 VARIANTS.

OR A WILD CARD.

WE KNOW THESE VARIANTS ARE HERE IN OUR STATE AND OUR MORE CONTAGIOUS.

SO KEEP WEARING A MASK WAITING 6 FEET APART AND WASHING YOUR HANDS.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST HOW FRAGILE PROGRESS CAN BE.

SO WE NEED TO KEEP PROTECTING EACH OTHER WHILE WE GET EVERYONE A SPOT TO GET THEIR SHOT.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU DOCTOR.

COHEN.

GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT IN OUR COVID-19 METRICS TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THAT WE WILL EASE BUT NOT LIFT RESTRICTIONS IN SEVERAL AREAS WITH THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS FRIDAY.

FEBRUARY THE 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 WILL NOT CHANGE.

AS MORE PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER.

IT WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

THESE PROVEN SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE VITAL.

AS THIS VIRUS IS STILL HERE AND INFECTING PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

SO HERE ARE THE MAIN CHANGES.

MANY BUSINESSES AND VENUES WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT OR EXPAND TO 50% OCCUPANCY, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

FOR EXAMPLE GYMS MUSEUMS AQUARIUMS BARBERS OTHER PERSONAL CARE POOLS OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT PARKS, RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS RESTAURANTS BREWERIES AND WINERIES NOW OPEN AT 50% CAPACITY WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

THE TIME FOR ON SITE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL.

FOR THE TIME FOR ENDING THAT SERVICE WILL BE MOVED TO 11:00PM.

ADDITIONALLY SOME BUSINESSES THAT WERE LIMITED TO OPERATING OUTDOORS AT 30%.

WE'LL STILL HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE.

BUT WILL NO LONGER HAVE A 100 PERSON CAP.

THAT INCLUDES OUTDOOR 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 5,000 PEOPLE.

WILL ALLOW UP TO 15% OF THEIR CAPACITY IF ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE FOLLOWED AND THAT MEANS THAT MOST COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL INDOOR SPORTS LIKE BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY.

CAN HAVE FANS AT 15% CAPACITY WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT BARS AND TAVERNS WILL BE ALLOWED TO OPEN INDOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

CAPACITY IS INDOORS AS 30%.

OTHER SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL BE IMPOSED AN OFFICIAL OFFICIALS WILL ENFORCE THIS OF THESE LIMITS.

LIKE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER VENUES, ALCOHOL SALES MUST STOP AT 11:00PM.

FINALLY IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES NOT OUTLINED ABOVE THE MASS GATHERING LIMIT WILL BE INCREASED TO 25 INDOORS AND 50 OUTDOORS WE KNOW THAT THIS 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 IN 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 IS DOCTOR COHEN SAID.

AND CARELESSNESS COULD LEAD TO A BACKSLIDE.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

IN ADDITION TO OUR IMPROVED COVID-19 NUMBERS, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN FLUS IN SEVERE COLD THIS YEAR.

MANY PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

AND IT IS MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE.

BUT WE ARE STILL FAR FROM THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC ESPECIALLY WITH THE VACCINE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

MILLIONS IS STILL NEED TO BE VACCINATED AND NEW VARIANCE IN THE MIX.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING THE THINGS WE KNOW WORK.

I'VE SAID ALL SAY IT AGAIN PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASHING OUR HANDS AND WEARING OUR MASK.

TODAY'S ACTION IS A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE AND TRUST.

BUT WE MUST REMAIN CAUTIOUS.

PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LOVED ONES EACH DAY.

WE MUST KEEP UP OUR GUARD.

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 THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TURN THE CORNER.

AND GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

ALSO WITH ME TODAY IS OUR SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ERIC HOOKS AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MIKE SPRAYBERRY.

MONICA MCGHEE AND LEE WILLIAMSON ARE OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.

BEHIND THE SCENES, JASMINE AND JACKIE METIVIER ARE OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.

WE'LL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR YOU REPRESENT WILL TAKE THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM KATIE PERALTA WITH AXIOS CHARLOTTE.

>> GOVERNOR COOPER, THIS IS KATIE PERALTA FROM AXIOS CHARLOTTE.

I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS FIRST OF ALL WOULD YOU CONSIDER WHERE WE ARE TODAY SOME SOME KIND OF TURNING POINT IN THE PANDEMIC I MEAN IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE MOST WE THANK THE LIFTING OF OF WHAT THE KING OF RESTRICTIONS THAT WE SEEM THAT FAR MY SECOND QUESTION IS ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT A BACKSLIDE YOU KNOW PEOPLE SEEING THAT AS.

AN EXCUSE TO GO BACK TO NORMAL AND KIND OF REVERT BACK TO HOW THINGS WORK PREPANDEMIC.

>> FIRST WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA FROM DAY ONE.

AND WE HAVE SEEN CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST MONTH.

ALL OF THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO MOVE DOWNWARD.

AND STABILIZE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE THE MANDATORY MASK MANDATE THE CURFEW.

YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE PULLED TOGETHER MANY ARE WEARING MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

MOST BUSINESSES ARE COMPLYING WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A POSITIVE EFFECT ON PEOPLE DESERVE A PAT ON THE BACK AND WHAT WE SAID ALL ALONG THAT IF OUR DATA INDICATES THAT WE WILL EASE THESE RESTRICTIONS.

NOTICE THERE WERE ONLY LIFTING ONE RESTRICTION AND THAT'S THAT.

MODIFIED STAY AT HOME ORDER AND THE CURFEW.

AND WE STILL HAVE THESE OTHER CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AND SAFETY PROTOCOL REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS IS STILL HERE.

OF COURSE YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO BACKSLIDE AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

BUT ALSO WHY WE ARE CONTINUING THESE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER THERE'S A GREATER CHANCE THAT THE VIRUS CAN BE TRANSMITTED.

SO WE THINK THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THE DATA.

IF WE CAN MOVE SOME MORE IN THE FUTURE WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN AS MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED WE CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE RULES.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE FIRST AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> AND OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JONAH KAPLAN WITH ABC 11.

>> GOVERNOR, DR. COHEN, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS JONAH KAPLAN FROM ABC 11.

GOVERNOR, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO QUESTION WE KNOW BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY RESTRICTIONS AND ECONOMIC SETBACKS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

DOES THIS DO ENOUGH TO GET NORTH CAROLINIANS BACK TO WORK AND HELP JUMP-START THE ECONOMY AGAIN.

>> WELL MANY BUSINESS HAD JUST BEEN HIT HARD BY THIS PANDEMIC PERIOD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEMSELVES OUT OF COMMERCE AND RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND HOTELS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN SAFETY.

WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN INDUSTRIES HAVE FOUND OPPORTUNITY IN CRISIS AND THAT WE'VE HAD SOME STRONG GROWTH IN JOBS IN MANY AREAS BUT PARTICULARLY THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT THE RESTAURANTS BARS HOTELS TO TRAVEL INDUSTRY, THE AIRLINES.

THEY HAVE BEEN HIT REALLY HARD AND STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEED TO CONTINUE TO STEP UP AND TO PROVIDE HELP.

TO THEM DIRECTLY BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF NORTH CAROLINA'S ECONOMY WHERE A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT WE WANT THAT TO THRIVE BUT WE STILL ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WE STILL HAVE A VIRUS THAT IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.

SO WE HAVE TO DO THINGS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE.

I DO THINK THAT EASING RESTRICTIONS AS LONG AS PEOPLE.

COME BACK CAREFULLY CAN HELP THESE BUSINESSES WE KNOW THAT THAT MANY OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING IN THAT THIS WON'T BRING THEM FULLY BACK.

BUT WE WANT TO PUT HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST AND WE THINK THAT THIS MOVE DOES THAT.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP JONAH KAPLAN ABC 11.

>> GOVERNOR, DR. COHEN, ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT MANY PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT SUMMER AND ABOUT SUMMER CONCERT AND SUMMER FESTIVAL.

PNC ARENA CAN OPEN WHAT ABOUT WALNUT CREEK.

AMPHITHEATER WHAT ABOUT RED HAT AMPHITHEATER AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR OUTDOOR VENUES TO START WELCOMING PEOPLE FOR CONCERTS.

>> WITH THIS ORDER, WALNUT CREEK AND RED HAT AMPHITHEATER OUTDOORS WOULD BE BE ABLE TO OPEN AT 30% CAPACITY, BEGINNING FRIDAY.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS WORRYING ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING PEOPLE GATHERING IN THE CORRIDORS I THINK HEALTH OFFICIALS FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THEN THEY DO INSIDE AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS ORDER BUT I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AS WELL.

>> THANKS JEN I THINK THE GOVERNOR HIT ON IT SAID THOSE OUTDOOR VENUES ARE GOING TO BE OPEN STARTING FRIDAY.

AGAIN OUTDOOR SETTINGS ALLOW FOR BETTER.

ABILITY TO BOTH SPREAD OUT IN BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE WEARING A MASK YOU AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED EARLIER THE MASK MANDATE IS NOT CHANGING SO WEARING A MASK STAYING SOCIALLY DISTANT WASH YOUR HANDS STILL GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS STEP PARTICULARLY OUTDOOR VENUES CAN BE OPEN AT 30% WITH THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CULLEN BROWDER WITH WRAL.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON GOVERNOR CULLEN BROWDER, WRAL.

I KNOW YOU REFERENCED IMPROVING METRICS, WOULD YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS HOW MUCH DO YOU BASE YOUR DECISION ON LISTENING TO PEOPLE WHETHER IT BE PARENTS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS OR LAWMAKERS, SOME OF WHOM A FILE BILLS THIS WEEK INCREASE CAPACITY AT SPORTING VENUES.

>> WE LISTEN TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WE'VE WE HAVE A LISTEN TO LAWMAKERS AND HAVE TALKED TO THEM, I'VE TALKED TO FAMILIES I'VE TALKED TO BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY THIS PANDEMIC.

THE CONTROLLING ISSUES OR THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT IN DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE FROM DAY ONE THE MORE THE SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH OFFICIALS LEARNED ABOUT THIS VIRUS.

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY KIND OF RESTRICTIONS OR CLOSINGS REFLECT WHAT WHAT IS BEING LEARNED.

SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA AND THOSE IMPROVING NUMBERS THAT YOU JUST SAW DOCTOR COHEN LIST.

HAVE LED US TO THIS DECISION.

IF WE WERE STILL WHERE WE WERE IN DECEMBER, YOU WOULDN'T SEE THAT FROM US REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER PRESSURE WOULD.

HE PUT ON BY ANY PEOPLE OR ANY LEGISLATORS OR ANYBODY ELSE.

WE'RE STICKING TO THE SCIENCE AND THE HEALTH DATA AND HAVE DONE THAT FROM DAY ONE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP, CULLEN BROWDER, WRAL.

>> GOVERNOR WHAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE SENT TO COMPANIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WORKING REMOTELY RIGHT NOW.

SHOULD THEY BRING SOME OF THEM BACK OR UNDER THIS ORDER.

>> I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY BUT I THINK WE STILL WANT TO ENCOURAGE REMOTE WORKING AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE OUT THERE.

THIS IS THE DIMMER SWITCH APPROACH AND IF YOU CAN GET YOUR WORK DONE AND CAN GET IT DONE REMOTELY THEN THAT'S A BETTER SITUATION THEN HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AN OFFICE SETTING BUT I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY.

>> THANKS CULLEN IS THE GOVERNOR SAID YES WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT CAN BE WORKING REMOTELY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT REMEMBER AS WE SAID OUR OUR TRENDS ARE IMPROVING BUT WE SAW THAT STILL MORE THAN 50% OF OUR COUNTIES ARE EITHER RED OR ORANGE IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF VIRAL SPREAD AN IMPACT ON OUR OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM SO WE'RE CERTAINLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE EASING OF OF THESE RESTRICTIONS BUT REMEMBER AS WE EASE THEM, WE STILL ARE KEEPING CAPACITY LIMITS BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS VIRUS IS SO CONTAGIOUS AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE VARIANTS OF COVID-19 ARE HERE IN OUR STATE AND THOSE VARIANTS NEED AN EVEN MORE CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

SO WE CERTAINLY NEED TO KEEP OUR GUARD UP I'D ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYERS THAT CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES REMOTE TO DO TO DO SO AS WE CONTINUE TO HOPEFULLY WATCH OUR TRENDS AND WE'LL SEE HOW WE EVOLVE OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF WEEKS AND MONTHS, THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAWN VAUGHAN WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

>> DAWN VAUGHAN, NEWS AND OBSERVER.

I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON ONE OF YOUR ANSWERS ABOUT WORKERS ARE YOU STILL ASKING STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES TO WORK WOMEN ARE THEY EXPECTED TO GO BACK IN A CERTAIN TIME AND ALSO YOU TALK SOME ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING HOW MUCH HAVE PROPOSALS FROM SPORTS AND BAR ASSOCIATION FACTORED INTO THE TIMING OF THIS RESTRICTION EASE.

>> I WANT TO ANSWER THAT THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST.

WE'RE STICKING WITH THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA AND THAT IS WHAT HAS TOLD US TO DO THESE RESTRICTIONS.

THE WAY WAY THE EASIEST RESTRICTIONS.

THE WAY WE HAVE.

AS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS WERE HEADED BY PEOPLE WHO'RE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED BUT WE ARE STILL ENCOURAGING REMOTE WORKING WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

EACH AGENCY HAD IS DEALING WITH THAT THERE'S SOME WORKERS TO OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HAVE TO.

COME INTO WORK AND THOSE WHO'RE WORKING ON THE FRONT LINE.

BUT WE'RE ENCOURAGING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR US TO PROTECT OUR STATE EMPLOYEES AS MUCH AS WE CAN REMOTE WORKING IS STILL ENCOURAGED.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP, DAWN VAUGHAN, NEWS AND OBSERVER.

>> THANKS FOR FOLLOW UP.

WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT SENATE BILL 30 OF THEM AND HAVING MOST OF THE SCHOOLS OPEN THAT STILL YOU KNOW ABOUT 20 DISTRICTS THAT WON'T BE OPEN.

IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE BILL THAT'S ON YOUR DESK.

WHY NOT JUST MANDATES THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPEN WITH THE PROTOCOLS THAT THAT YOU WANT FOR PLAN B.

>> SO I STILL THINK THAT LOCAL CONTROL IS MOST IMPORTANT HERE BUT WE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO IT BEGAN IN PERSON INSTRUCTION IF THEY HAVE NOT AND A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS.

WE'RE HOPING THAT MORE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

BUT IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO PASS A BILL MANDATING IT IN ALL COUNTIES THEN I WILL SIGN IT AS LONG AS THEY FIX THOSE 2 ISSUES MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE SCHOOLS ABIDE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH GUIDELINES IN I WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

AND SECONDLY PRESERVING THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITY OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WHERE WE NEED ACTION AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SIGN THE BILL IF THEY'LL SEND ME ONE LIKE THAT.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> I KNEW OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MICHAEL HYLAND WITH CBS 17.

HI THIS IS MICHAEL HYLAND FROM CBS 17.

DURING A MEETING WITH STATE LEGISLATORS ON TUESDAY.

SO JUST YESTERDAY DOCTOR COHEN YOU WE ARE TO SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE HAD ALL ALONG ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THE VIRUS TO SPREAD IN OUR SPECIFICALLY.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO OPEN BARS FOR INDOOR SERVICE.

>> HI, MICHAEL.

AS WE WENT THROUGH EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, ALL OF OUR TRENDS CONTINUE TO MOVE IN OR IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR CASES ARE DOWN PERCENT POSITIVES BEEN DOWN OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN AND REMEMBER AS WE EASE EASE RESTRICTIONS.

IT IS JUST THAT AN EASING OF RESTRICTIONS SO INDOOR CAPACITY NEEDS TO BE LIMITED TO 30% ALCOHOL SALES NEED TO END AT 11:00PM FOLKS NEED TO BE WEARING THEIR MASK ANY TIME THEY'RE NOT ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.

SO WE THINK WITH THOSE PUT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THAT THAT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE THIS STEP FORWARD IT IS JUST A STEP AND AGAIN WE'LL WATCH OUR TRENDS AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE MORE VIRAL SPREAD IN THOSE AREAS WILL REASSESS AS WE GO I HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE I HOPE FOLKS WILL.

REALLY TAKE TO HEART THAT WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THE 3 W'S AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE REMEMBER THERE ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANTS OF THIS VIRUS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP AT THIS MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO EASE EASE RESTRICTIONS AND AGAIN THIS IS BECAUSE OF A LOT OF HARD WORK OF NORTH CAROLINIANS FOR REALLY A YEAR IN TRYING TO PROTECT EACH OTHER SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

AND THE OTHER CHANGE HERE IS WE KNOW WE HAVE 2 VACCINES THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING INTO ARMS INCREDIBLY QUICKLY WE'VE HAD MINISTERED MORE THAN 2 MILLION DOSES AGAIN THAT'S MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST A FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE HERE SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR US IN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO WE'RE CERTAINLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WE CANNOT LET OUR GUARD DOWN AS WE DO IT, BUT I THINK THESE ARE THE RIGHT STEPS FORWARD.

THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> FOLLOW-UP MICHAEL HYLAND CBS 17.

>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU KNOW NOW WITH REGARD TO THE COVID-19 VARIANTS HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU WILL END UP REVERSING THESE DECISIONS TODAY, THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO LET THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA GUIDE OUR DECISIONS AND IF WE SEE THAT KIND OF A VARIANT THAT IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AND MALLS DISCUSS IT WITH HEALTH OFFICIALS AND SCIENTISTS AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I WOULD YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT DOCTOR COHEN.

THANKS NEXT QUESTION.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRIAN ANDERSON WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

>> HI, BRIAN ANDERSON HERE WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ONE QUESTION FOR YOU AND ONE QUESTION FOR DOCTOR COHEN.

FOR YOU, IN EXACTLY 2 WEEKS.

YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE UNDER THE PROVISION THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN GET THE ROLLOUT ARE YOU PLANNING TO GET VACCINATED THEN?

AND FOR DOCTOR COHEN, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD VACCINATE TEACHERS ON THEIR SCHOOL GROUNDS.

THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO GET VACCINATED WHEN MY GROUP COMES UP, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MY VACCINATION JUST AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE.

DOCTOR COHEN.

>> HI BRIAN AND SO YES STARTING TODAY OR TEACHER AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR BUS DRIVERS OR CAFETERIA WORKERS AS WELL AS OUR CHILD CARE PERSONNEL ARE ALL STARTING TO BE ELIGIBLE.

BUT THAT MEANS THAT REMEMBER THAT OUR VACCINE SUPPLY IS STILL VERY LIMITED AND THERE ARE NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH TEACHERS ARE BEING VACCINATED SOME ARE HAVING VACCINATION SITES ON ON THEIR SCHOOL GROUNDS OTHERS ARE SETTING UP VACCINE CLINICS AT THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR IN COURT COORDINATION WITH ANOTHER VACCINE PROVIDERS.

OTHERS ARE GOING TO THEIR LOCAL WALGREENS TO GET A VACCINE.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS IN WHICH OUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL CAN ACCESS THE VACCINE, BUT I'D REMIND EVERYONE THAT SUPPLY IS INCREDIBLE LIMITED AND REMEMBER WE ALSO HAD SOME SHIPPING DELAYS DUE TO WEATHER OVER THE LAST WEEK SO THIS WEEK WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING.

LAST WEEK'S VACCINATION IN ADDITION TO THE NEW VACCINATION SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON BY A VACCINE PARTNERS RIGHT NOW AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK.

BUT WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME IN ORDER TO GET ALL OF OUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND THEN ULTIMATELY OR OTHER FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS VACCINATED THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> I NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ALISON SMITH WITH FOX 8.

>> HEY, THIS ALISON SMITH WITH FOX 8.

JUST WONDERING AS WE LOOSEN THESE COVID RESTRICTIONS LEADING TO SPRING BREAK ARE YOU ALL CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER SURGE LIKE WE SAW POST THANKSGIVING POST CHRISTMAS.

>> YOU KNOW WE SEEN THIS VIRUS SPREAD WHEN PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER IN INFORMAL SETTINGS AND IN FAMILY EXTENDED FAMILY SETTINGS.

AND WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED WE HAVE PERIODS OF TIME WHERE THAT OFTEN HAPPENS.

I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAD SUCH A SIGNIFICANT PEAK AND THE END OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY IS BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS AND PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER SO YES THERE WILL BE CONCERN.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING WEARING MASK.

THE FACT THAT HAS GOT COHEN SAYS WE'VE GOTTEN OVER A MILLION PEOPLE BACKS UNAIDED OVER 2 MILLION VACCINES HAD BEEN GIVEN A DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT.

CONTINUING TO MAKE THAT PROGRESS.

I THINK IT WILL BE VERY VERY POSITIVE.

SO DOCKER AND YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OKAY.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> FOLLOW-UP, ALISON SMITH, FOX 8 >> ALSO WITH MORE STUDENTS.

I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE MORE IN PERSON CLASSES BUT WITH THE REMOTE LEARNING STUDENTS BEING ON THEIR COMPUTER I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TRIAD RECENTLY INVOLVING THE MISSING GIRL THANKFULLY TO HAVE.

>> THAN FOUND COMMUNICATING WITH SEXUAL PREDATORS WITH THEIR OBJECTORS OVER SCHOOL ISSUE COMPUTERS.

SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT HAPPENING IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THE STATE CAN DO.

>> THAT'S DEEPLY TROUBLING WHEN OUR CHILDREN FALL VICTIM TO SEXUAL PLATTERS WHETHER IT'S ONLINE OR IN PERSON AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO STEP UP HER ABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AFTER PEOPLE LIKE THAT I WORK HARD ON THAT IS THAT GENERAL WE CONTINUED AS GOVERNOR.

BUT IT ALSO PUTS RESPONSIBILITY AND I'LL TELL YOU OUR PARENTS HAVE HAD TO DO SO MUCH DURING THIS PACKET PANDEMIC MANY OF CONTINUED WORKING AT THEIR JOB AND HAVE BECOME TEACHER ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN, WORKING AT HOME IN PARTICULARLY YOUNGER CHILDREN MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SUPERVISED MAKING SURE THAT.

DEVICES HAVE SOME PROTECTIONS ON THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO.

PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING ABLE TO FALL VICTIM TO THIS KIND OF THING SO YES DEEPLY CONCERNING AND TROUBLING.

WE WANT TO GET OUR CHILDREN BACK INTO SCHOOL.

REMOTE LEARNING IS A WAY TO TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS CAN BE SAFE AND WE KNOW THAT SOME STUDENTS AND SOME PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO GO BACK AND IN PERSON LEARNING SO WE NEED TO MAKE REMOTE LEARNING AS SAFE AND AS EFFECTIVE AS WE CAN.

BUT IT'S TIME TO GET OUR CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL AND WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOWARD THAT.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CHRISTY O'CONNOR WITH WBTV.

>> HI, GOVERNOR.

CHRISTY O'CONNOR FROM WBTV IN CHARLOTTE.

IN A GROUP 3 IS NOW ELIGIBLE OR AT LEAST A PORTION OF GROUP 3 IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO ENSURE THAT SENIORS ELIGIBLE A GROUP TO ARE NOT BEING SKIPPED AND IT'S LIKELY EVEN MORE COMPETITIVE TO TRY TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

>> SO WE KNOW HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND 65 AND OVER ARE VACCINATED AND THIS IS WHY WE GAVE THEM A LONG RUNWAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

WE KNOW THAT 80 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR DEATHS COMMON THAT CATEGORY OF AGE 65 AND OVER.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY PROVIDERS TO REACH OUT TO TO THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE.

OUR EFFORTS TO GO INTO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PARTNERING WITH CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

SO PROVIDERS ARE STILL ACTIVELY WORKING TO SEEK OUT.

65 AND OVER AND THIS IS WHY WE GIVEN ALL THIS TIME AND GOTTEN OVER HALF OF THEM VACCINATED.

WE ALSO HAVE MORE VACCINE THAT'S COMING INTO THE STATE.

MOST EVERY WEEK WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY WASHINGTON, BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE VACCINE.

WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE THAT MAY BE COMING ONLINE SOON.

SO THE MORE VACCINE.

WE HAVE THE MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR FINAL QUESTION TODAY IS ROSE HOBAN WITH AND NC HEALTH NEWS.

>> THANK YOU MUCH TAKING MY QUESTION I HAVE A FOLLOW-ON QUESTION TO - TALKING ABOUT - IT LOOKS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE FDA IS GOING TO APPROVE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE THE WEEK.

AND YESTERDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE BIDEN SAID THAT IF EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION USE IS ISSUED, THAT THEY ANTICIPATE ALLOCATING 3 TO 4 MILLION DOSES OF THE VACCINE NEXT WEEK.

HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN GIVEN ANY INDICATION AS TO A POTENTIAL TIME LINE.

AND HOW MANY DOSES WE GET AND HOW SOON WE GET THEM.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH MISTER SITES AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REGARDING JOHNSON & JOHNSON STILL A STEP OR 2 FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH BUT I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY.

>> HI ROSE.

YES WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS MAY BE INDICATED THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 2 MILLION DOSES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE OUT ONCE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS HOPEFULLY APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING ABOUT 3% OF THAT TOTAL POT WHEN YOU LOOK AT AT THE OTHER PARTS OF THEIR PUTTING UP SO WE THINK IT'S ABOUT 50 TO 60,000 DOSES THAT COULD BE COMING HERE WE'RE NOT SURE SO WE'RE PLANNING FOR RANGE BETWEEN 30,060 1000 DOSES.

AND WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING TO THINK ABOUT WHERE CAN THOSE DOSES GO ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE THAT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO USE THAT WORKING WITH OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY THAT'S WAITING IN THE WINGS SO THE MOMENT THAT THOSE VACCINES BECOME AVAILABLE TO US WE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING SO PLANNING IS ALREADY UNDER WAY AND SO MORE TO COME I'M SURE OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF DAYS WE KNOW THAT THE FDA IS IS MEANT TO PROBABLY DO THERE.

FINAL ANALYSIS BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, THEN THE CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL MEET OVER THE WEEKEND.

SO WE HOPE BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE MORE AND MORE SURE.

TIMELINES AS WELL AS ANY PARAMETERS FOR THE USE OF THIS VACCINE.

THANKS.

IS THAT IS A FOLLOW-UP ROSE.

>> ON A RELATED MATTER, YOU KNOW WE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN MONITORING FOR VARIENTS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

HOW MUCH SURVEILLANCE THE VERY ARE YOU DOING.

YOU KNOW AND HOW LIKE HOW MUCH OF THE VARIANT HAVE YOU FOUND IN THE STATE.

>> SURE THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

WE ARE SENDING A SIZABLE NUMBER OF SAMPLES TO THE CDC, BUT AGAIN IT'S ONLY A SUBSET OF THE SAMPLES ACROSS ALL OF THE TESTING THAT'S DONE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AS WE IDENTIFY THOSE VARIANCE BY GENETIC SEQUENCE THEN WE DO REPORT THOSE PUBLICLY AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE CDC DASHBOARD THAT INDICATES WHAT IS HAS BEEN FOUND HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I KNOW THE CDC HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ABOUT 200 MILLION DOLLARS IN A IN A LARGER INITIATIVE TO DO GENETIC SEQUENCING SO WE EXPECT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT EFFORT AND MAKING SURE EVEN MORE SAMPLES FROM NORTH CAROLINA WILL BE PART OF THAT SURVEILLANCE EFFORT AS WE GO FORWARD, THANKS.

>> THANKS EVERYONE PLEASE STAY SAFE.