>> Well good afternoon, everybody and thank you for joining North Carolina's update on the covid pandemic as of today we have had 1 million 7 tout 1273 cases.

464 new cases reported since yesterday.

548 people in the hospital and sadly, 13,246 people have died.

Just this morning.

I was in Salisbury and learned about the death of sergeant Shane cherica.

A 20 year veteran with the Salisbury Police Department.

For anyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 including sergeant characters family.

We hold you in our prayers as you mourn.

As we continue to emerge from this pandemic one day at a time we know that vaccines are the key to beating this virus.

The proof is overwhelming and irrefutable.

Vaccines are safe and effective.

They protect you and the people around you.

If you don't believe doctor Cohen and me ask your doctor.

Since the beginning of our vaccine effort.

Our goal has been to get shots in arms as fast and fair as possible.

We've made tremendous progress and now the vaccines are widely available.

But in North Carolina we still have around 2 and a half million adults who are not vaccinated.

Getting this lifesaving vaccine to those people is critical for the health of our people and the health of our economy.

We're pulling out all the stops.

Last month, our state health officials launched a summer cash card program in 4 counties.

With this pilot program if you get a first dose or even if you drive someone to get a shot.

You get a $25 cash card.

The response has been promising in this fees for counties.

Early analysis shows an increase in vaccination compared to the overall overall County trend.

More counties will be added in the coming weeks.

And we are pleased that businesses across our state are offering cash food drinks vacation time and other incentives to get their employees and their customers vaccinated.

But the we know that more must be done to encourage people to take their shot.

After studying how similar efforts have boosted vaccine rights and other states.

Today we are announcing that North Carolina will launch cash drawings for our residents who have gotten a vaccine.

Its your shot at a million summer cash drawing.

Here's how to work.

Over the next 3 months of summer.

4 people escaped before people will win a million dollars each simply for being North Carolinians who have gotten at least one vaccine in our state.

North Carolinians 18 and over who gets vaccinated or have already been vaccinated will be automatically entered.

North Carolinians from 12 to 17 who have gotten at least one shot are automatically entered into for drawings to pay a $125,000 for college education at a school of their choice.

Regardless of who wins there is no way to lose.

A chance at a million dollars or a college scholarship is pretty good motivation.

But even if your name is drawn.

We're still do is getting strong protection from the deadly virus.

So start today.

Get vaccinated or drive, someone who needs encouragement.

The first drawing will be on June 23rd.

And they will occur every other week until the last one on August, the 4th.

The drawings will take place every other Wednesday.

And for extra incentive.

Anyone getting their first shot from today going forward we'll be in or twice for each drawing.

Getting that first shot now we'll double your chances.

Each time a name is picked.

Of course the best reason to get vaccinated is to protect yourself your friends and your family.

And now most people aren't wearing mask and most pace places so unvaccinated people can be a real danger to each other.

We are making progress but still need more people vaccinated to keep this virus from rising up again.

That's why North Carolina is using federal coronavirus relief funds for this program.

After seeing the benefit in other states we believe this program will help get more North Carolinians vaccinated making our state a safer place for everybody.

I'd now like to ask doctor Mandy Cohen our secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and human Services say were to to us doctor Cohen.

Thank you governor.

>> These summer cash drawings add another reward to the many that come with getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Getting a vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19 rigorous clinical trials using thousands of people ages, 12 and up have proven that the vaccines are safe and effective.

More than 140 million Americans have now been safely vaccinated and protected from serious illness.

And virus-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Here in North Carolina we need to do better with vaccinations fewer people here in North Carolina are protected from COVID-19 and in many other states.

Well our covid trends are good.

We are still seeing people hospitalized and dying from this virus.

And many who have had COVID-19 struggle with long-term effects like losing their sense of smell or having difficulty breathing when doing simple activities.

This is preventable if you get a vaccine to protect yourself and your community.

We're going to keep using a range of strategies to support people getting vaccinated we've been consulting with researchers who have expertise in incentives and supporting vaccinations as well as looking at what is working around the country.

With today's announcement North Carolina joining other states that have million dollar drawings to promote vaccinations Ohio was the first state to launch such a program and they reported a 28% increase in vaccinations among those 16 and older in the first 2 weeks following their announcement.

So now as part of North Carolina is bringing some are back campaign North Carolinians can also win for residents ages, 18 and older will win 1 million dollars cash prizes and for residents between the ages of 1217 will win a 125,000 towards a post-secondary education.

Residents who have already received at least one dose by a North Carolina vaccine provider are automatically entered into the drawing.

Anyone that's an 8 it's starting today will be entered twice fruits trying.

The Sunni get vaccinated the more chances you have to win.

The drawings will be supported by the North Carolina State lottery director and the scholarship funds will be managed by the North Carolina State education assistance authority.

There are many reasons why more than 45% of adults in North Carolina have not taken their shot.

Some people may need help covering the cost of taking time away from work.

For transportation costs.

This is where that $25 M a cash card as mentioned by the governor is one of the ways we can address those challenges.

Others may need an extra reason to stop waiting to get vaccinated and this chance to win a million dollars or the money towards a post-secondary education might be that reason.

Other people want to hear from those around them who have gotten vaccinated so if you've been vaccinated please talk to your friends and family about your experience.

Share why you got vaccinated these conversations are really helping people decide whether or not to get the vaccine.

Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine is a winner.

They protect themselves.

Their loved ones and others from severe illness hospitalization and death.

You can learn more about your shot at a million at summer backs cash .com.

Thank you governor.

Thanks doctor Cohen.

>> Already we're seeing these vaccines are helping us do the things we love to do safely.

Gathering with friends and family eating indoors at a restaurant go into a game hugging a grandchild.

All of that is a testament just how safe and effective these vaccines are and the more North Carolinians who get vaccinated the sooner we can put this pandemic fully behind us.

Also with me today is our secretary of public safety, Eric hooks, North Carolina emergency management chief of staff will Ray and senior policy intergovernmental affairs at Pfizer for North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services had to go on TV and had a thank you and your team for working so h#*#*#* o#* helping us put this together Lee Williamson and David Payne our sign language interpreters and behind the scenes, Jackie and jasmine the to be or our Spanish language interpreters.

Well now take pick some questions from reporters who are in the room if you guys can go to the Mike fors their all call on you, whoever gets there first maybe.

>> I Don fire the news and observer.

Is with their current executive order expiring tomorrow are you going to let that expires or another one being issued.

>> We will be issuing another executive order will be announcing tomorrow what is in that order but they will be another one issue tomorrow, yes.

>> Do you anticipate that the mask and certain indoor settings will be continued and then and I asked about this last week but the tide of the.

State of emergency was Virginia's going to let there's go at the end of June and and South Carolina lifting theirs.

What's the status for North Carolina, and what needs to happen to me like the other states will be glad I'll be glad to talk to you about that tomorrow.

>> The state of emergency is allowing us to draw down federal funds, it's allowing us to wave state and local regulations to be able to get these vaccines to people faster.

So it's an important part of getting this pandemic behind us but I can talk about the specifics of that order tomorrow and would rather talk about this promotion today.

>> On the just real quick on the federal money Senate leader Berger today said that he was unsure about what what federal money would still be outstanding.

What else.

What else what is North Carolina still need to build a draw them.

>> So you know, I'll be glad to get in this tomorrow but emergency management.

We are paying National Guard soldiers to help us administer vaccines and to do other jobs than there are a lot of other for streams of federal money that are important in an emergency situation.

Yes, and WRAL news governor you and doctor Cohen to make the case for a long time now that getting the shot.

>> Is the right thing to do for you for your family for your community.

So what are your thoughts on the place we are now where in order to motivate people were having to use money.

>> A lot of people are not opposed to getting the shot.

But simply have a busy life.

Realize its importance to themselves and their families.

>> And we are seeing in other states.

The things that have motivated people to say OK I was going to do that anyway.

Back and win a million dollars or maybe I'll get this $25 cash card.

Whatever motivates people.

We want to do what works because it's not only important for that person in the family, but it's important for our entire state.

I mean we're seeing our numbers continuing to go down hospitalizations people in the ICU that's number of cases percent positive all going down and it's because of the vaccine.

But every day we still have people going into the hospital every day we have people going into the ICU.

Most every day people are still dying from covid so it's still here.

And we know the vaccines are the key to getting this pandemic fully behind us we need to pull out all the stops and do everything that we can as to why people are motivated by certain things you have to ask the behavior analysts which we've asked a lot of them and researchers and they tell us that this is one of the ways to give people that little nudge to to go.

I will say that there are a number of people who are basing their opinion are not getting a shot that's based on misinformation things that are acts that are wrong.

And there's a lot of it out there.

And that's why I say if it to everyone out there if you don't believe me if you don't believe doctor Cohen ask your own doctor about this talk with your own doctor about your concerns.

Had a governor's do you.

>> See a surge of vaccines that you'll be ordering we've seen in other states that this does cause a spike so.

How are you operating around vaccine numbers in the state to accommodate for this promotion.

The good thing is that we have plenty of vaccines.

They are easy and they are everywhere so we are ready.

We want people to come and get a vaccine.

>> I'll let doctor Cohen address specifically about the ordering process Taco.

>> Thanks Adam.

So the governor is exactly right we have a great supply of vaccine, not only here in North Carolina but around the country.

So what we're able to do we actually have a lot of supply of vaccine already here in our state so I'm not concerned about any increase of numbers and in fact we welcome that we really want folks to come in and get their vaccine as soon as possible you want them to get protected and get entered into this drawing as soon as possible, but we also have the ability to order vaccine at any point to the flexibility and ordering has really opened up because the supply is so much better there really isn't a concern about supply.

And if anything I think our vaccine providers have done a tremendous job of working together.

So if there is any shortage and any given day there's great partnerships and we saw those problems immediately so really no supply issues or ordering issues going forward to which is great news.

>> The owner had a concrete see guys in person here for the first time thanks for having us and we've been here out a lot and we have a good con.

I had a question just for each of you just first governor for the lottery.

If I win can I stay anonymous and my subject to state and federal taxes if I won.

>> It is a cash drawing in order to get the money you have to agree to allow your name to become public.

So you cannot take the money and not anybody know about it.

And there are federal and state tax consequences would be subject to income tax and Hattie you jump up here behind me if I say anything wrong with that kind of thing and then I had a question for for doctor colon, I just sort of about the effectiveness of the cash card.

>> Program we say we saw a lot of drivers and vaccine recipients in those 4 counties.

I'm curious based on what you guys see as the success of that if you plan to expand that or if this is going to completely replace that and just what your medical advice to people who live in a household where they can't convince someone to get vaccinated should they stay mask themselves.

>> Ryan first on the summer cash cards so I think this is been a really important program and what is important is that as we've been saying we need a mix of strategies to make sure that we are meeting folks where they are there are we recognize that for some folks taking time off of work and the transportation costs are our truly meaningful and I think this summer cash card the $25 cash card recognizes that you may have to take some time off of work or you do have to get transportation and so were compensating not just those who are getting vaccinated but those who are driving others because we know that that that is part of the U.S. all working together on it we're really excited about how those 4 counties went and what we've seen particularly from an equity perspective making sure reaching underserved communities are African American.

Our latinx Hispanic and our Native American populations that it's really worked well in it for those communities and again it's not surprising.

Those are folks who do have to take the time off from work and him more challenges with transportation so we think it's working it is not meant to one is not meant to replace where we're moving forward with both of them.

In the coming weeks hope to scale up both the summer cash card and to move forward with these million dollar drawings and what I would say to folks who are living with others who are not vaccinated but those who are unvaccinated still put themselves.

And others around them at risk when you are not vaccinated it does mean that this virus could infect you at any time unfortunately what we also have known is that the cases here in North Carolina are often variants of covid meaning they are more contagious and sometimes more severe.

So it's more important than ever to get a vaccine.

These vaccines work against those variants.

So we want to make sure that you are protected.

We do encourage those who are on vaccinated to still wear a mask particularly when they are around other people.

So that would be my my advice if you are unvaccinated please do wear a mask, particularly when you are indoors and around other people thank you.

>> And just a quick clarification just for people who are vaccinated but in a household where that person isn't vaccinated as the vaccinated person do you need a mask if you are.

>> If you are vaccinated I think we've been clear that there is a wide range of things you could do now that you could do before covid so when you have the vaccine you are protected, but if you do not you are not protected and that is why I think we're putting out extra incentives and extra reasons why we want folks to get vaccinated by thanks Brian.

>> Okay, I think we'll go to those who are remote, it will take the first question from our remote reporters.

>> The first question is from Jason de bruyne was W UNC.

>> I think for the question so this could be just a bit off topic but there's another big story that of all the changes coming down the pike having to do with Medicaid transformation.

Going live in now less than a month.

I suppose.

I think clearly if it were not for covid it would be a lot more attention placed on this and it does seem that there are a significant number of Medicaid beneficiaries who still have some questions or or know very little about what's going to happen.

To their plans and how they're going to accept Medicaid.

What are the plans for the next you know 3, 4 weeks many clearly in the months beyond the launch to try to get good information out to Medicaid beneficiaries to try to get them educated on on you know what can happen to them and how they can access their Healthcare waters.

>> Thanks this is a significant change in the administration of Medicaid that the Legislature put in place several years ago.

Doctor Cohen and her team have been working constantly on this to make this as smooth as possible for both the Medicaid recipients and health care providers.

We're going to try to find positives in this outcome and our team we're the first state in the country to introduce the healthy opportunities program where some Medicaid dollars can be used to prevent illnesses.

That the example often used his a person who continues to go back and get treated for asthma.

Why don't we removed the moldy carpet and that person's House that we to get that person well and can reduce medical costs going forward and so we're going to have a healthy opportunities effort going on in our state doctor Cohen has has master for be masterfully put that together and we're looking forward to that being a national model but I'm in a letter to Cohen comment on that and tell us where we are on doctor Cohen.

>> Hi Jason yes, our team has been very busy working on transforming our Medicaid program is the biggest change to our program in its history.

It will start on July 1st, but what I would say is in years of preparatory work here.

That what they're essentially happening for those don't follow as closely is that the the Medicaid program going forward is going to be administered by private insurance plans, which means for the first time or Medicaid beneficiaries need to choose a private insurance plan to be associated with that process has happened we had an open enrollment process and we did and I would Roman process so during the month of June is when they're getting in touch with their new plant that is still happening right now.

And so we want to make sure that if beneficiaries have questions one they can call their their doctor that they've seen or they can call or Medicaid help line.

And we can be sure to answer their questions.

But we also have a lot of parameter and policies in place to make sure that as we do this transition we're protecting beneficiaries so they don't like the plan they are either chose or we enroll them and they can change for up to 90 days.

So there's a lot of flexibility to both protect our our doctors and our hospitals in this change as well as our beneficiaries and give folks flexibility to hopefully this one could be a smooth transition.

I will say with any major major transition like this of course there are always things in questions we need to answer.

So just know that we are ready to do that and want to make sure that everyone gets their questions answered that patients are seen.

On July first just like they would get seen on June 30th, so we're working really hard for that Smith transition, thanks.

Next question.

>> Follow updates and Abreu and W and Z.

>> Thanks for the follow-up on and governor, I know this is something that you've been very vocal on it.

Now that transformation is you know at the doorstep I know you're hope ball for a Medicaid expansion has there been any movement at all that you've seen strong senator Berger speaker Moore other Republican leaders in either the House or Senate that you know to get that anywhere closer to of Medicaid expansion efforts.

>> I just talked with them both.

>> Yesterday or the day before.

And that issue is still on the table.

It is not going to be in their proposed budgets that they put forward.

But we talked about the fact that we're going to have to have an ultimate negotiation here before the final budget bill is put out.

And there are other opportunities potentially in legislation to expand Medicaid.

Most people across the state for for this this is our opportunity to pull down an unprecedented amount.

A federal dollars.

But it's going to save lives.

Hundreds of thousands of working North Carolinians who work for employers who don't provide them medical insurance or who charged him so much that they can't afford it.

They're going to be able to get health insurance and in the middle of a pandemic it is the right thing to do it is the moral thing to do.

It is smart economically to do it.

And it will create thousands of jobs.

It will help drive down cost of people's private insurance and even insurance of the state health plan.

Lot of reasons to do this right now and I hope that we can get it done.

Next question.

>> Our next question is from the key House there with W I P N. Governor I was wondering if you facts and numbers affecting others to follow those other states have done this like Ohio, but then implemented similar incentive saying is that the whole thing for you.

>> What was your question that what are the numbers from the other states.

I know that that in the first few weeks in Ohio that there was a 28% increase in vaccinations there are you asking about numbers and other sites.

>> Bates you're breaking your back as he gets back to see a similar back numbers here in our state.

>> You know this this whole idea of vaccine drawings in people being able to win prizes is something that's.

Being talked about across the country.

And has been talked about in North Carolina for a long time so we're hoping for the best that I think we really don't know for sure.

What the effects going to be we are pretty sure it's going to be more the question of how much more we don't know, but we're going to spend the next few weeks talking to people about it then trying to really gin it up out there to get the interest.

Next question.

>> Our next question is from Richard Craver with the winston-salem journal.

>> Yes governor secretary Cohen a scissor Richard credible with was settled journal.

I had a couple questions want is given that.

Monday will be a month's issue issued your mask close order for most indoor and outdoor venues want to see how you also like things are going and how people or either here and not a hearing to it and then given were about 2 weeks out from Memorial Day.

If you are still concerned about any kind of covid surge related to people being masks over Memorial Day.

>> One thing that's clear vaccines are working.

And I think it's clear to that in most situations people who are vaccinated would not need to wear a mask.

And our numbers have continued to go down and yes we are clock think close to a month from when we removed the mandatory mask order.

I think our biggest concern is the virus really picking up.

Among those who are unvaccinated that's where our concern we've got over 2 and a half million adults in North Carolina who have yet to be vaccinated even with our numbers going down.

Yeah, you're concerned about.

Things like Memorial Day weekend when a lot of people get together and a lot of maybe unvaccinated and that you could potentially see a rise in cases that's what we're trying to stem right now with getting more shots in arms it makes it easier when you have us a singular goal getting more people vaccinated means there's going to be less virus is going to be less sickness going to be less death and our economy is going to be even stronger and it's going to make for a better state would you want to add to that are going OK. Next question.

>> The next question is from Josh Bergeron to Salisbury post.

For the question you sort of talked about this, but maybe there's more to add either from the governor of the secretary there's a fair amount of segmentation between individual County vaccination rates and here in Rowan County the right about 31% according to state data.

34%.

If you include the Salisbury V a meanwhile in counties like wait is over 50% and that over 60% and some others.

How is life going to look different both now and in the future depending on the degree to which people in your County are being vaccinated.

>> We worry about >> counties and just areas of the state where a lot of people remain unvaccinated there's a potential for.

>> More virus and more sickness and death but I'll let doctor Cohen address that specific >> hi Josh, it is a concern when we see lower vaccination rates.

This is one of the reasons we are launching this shot at a million dollars to give folks an extra incentive to get vaccinated it's why we're using the summer cash cards to reimburse folks for transportation costs and time.

But we have more work to do and I'd largely say that the folks who are unvaccinated fall into 3 buckets.

Generally it's folks who definitely want to get vaccinated say they are going to they just need to make some time to do it.

We in from from my perspective that means we need to make sure it is easy it's convenient.

And again these incentives I think help.

>> I think there are a number of folks who have had questions and that is where the governor keeps encouraging folks to get good information about these vaccines always go talk to your doctor, but you can also.

Get good information from us at the department on making sure that you know that these vaccines have been well researched that they are very safe more than a 140 million Americans have safely gotten these vaccines and I think we want to make sure folks get good answers to questions and then there I think there are folks who have have said all along there they're not in favor vaccines and even for those we're going to keep trying to make sure that we can answer questions and help them understand that their actions, not only protect themselves that really impact their communities.

And I know everyone cares about.

Their their families and their communities and want to do right by them and so we're hoping with good information few more incentives that everyone across North Carolina is going to get vaccinated thanks.

Next question.

>> Our final question is from Michael Hyland with CBS 17.

I related to the lottery fortune are there any targets that you set for where you want to see vaccinations go as a result of this announcement ultimately how are you going to measure whether this is successful actually worth the money.

>> That are going.

>> Hi Michael so obviously we're going to look at what our baseline vaccination rates are right now and we are going to do an evaluation to understand if they're going to be increases of the number weeks.

When we look at even the 4 counties we did that summer cash card we certainly saw improvement in number of vaccines from that cash card and so we will evaluate to see you know we still had said an initial goal for us of having 66% or 2 thirds of North Carolinians vaccinated but we want to go beyond that so I think we are just want to make sure that folks know that their incentives out there that vaccinations are safe and effective want to answer people's questions make it convenient for them, and that's what we're focused on and I think if we do that and we pull together as North Carolinians that we're talking about those of us who have gotten vaccinated share our stories with our friends and family.

I know we're going to continue to make progress here but if you look at North Carolina compared to some you know other states we are starting to lag behind and I'm proud that we are are doing well compared to are a lot of other states in the South.

But there are many states who are now seeing 70% of their.

Adults vaccinated we can get there too.

I hope today's announcement will help us.

Launch forward.

Even faster, thanks.

>> Thanks everybody for being with us today make sure that you have your shot at a million.

Thanks a lot.