>> Well good afternoon, everyone and thank you for joining today's briefing.

As of today we have had 1 million 44 thousand 877 cases.

3,268 new cases reported since yesterday.

1141 people in the hospital.

And sadly, 13,618 people have died.

Today doctor Mandy Cohen will give a detailed update on our State's numbers trends in vaccinations.

But before we share updates.

I wanted to acknowledge to people who are participating in their final briefing today.

Our secretary of public safety Erik hooks and our director of emergency management Mike sprayberry.

Both of these men have dedicated their lives and served with distinction to protect North Carolinians and I'm really grateful for their service so on behalf of the thank state we thank you guys very very much.

Secretary hooks and director sprayberry along with others have supported our efforts to create hope which is a rental and utility assistance program.

That's gotten hundreds of millions of dollars out to landlords and utilities to help hard-hit low income tenants stay in their homes with the lights on.

So please remember if covid has hit you in the pocketbook said that you can't pay rent or utilities.

Apply for help through the hope program.

As you'll see after months of low numbers.

Our trends have turned sharply in the wrong directions.

I want to be clear about why.

Unvaccinated people are driving this resurgence.

And getting themselves and other people sick.

People who are unvaccinated make up most all of our cases where people are getting sick and hospitalized.

The Delta variant of covid is even more contagious to those who are not vaccinated.

That matter your age or your race if you are not vaccinated you are at great risk.

We're hearing from doctors about people in the icus begging for the vaccine right before they're put on a ventilator.

By then it's too late.

So here's my message to anyone who is yet to get a shot.

Get a vaccine today.

Don't wait until you or a family member is sick and going on a ventilator.

Don't wait until we run out of hospital beds.

Don't wait until skyrocketing numbers threaten to shut businesses or cancel sports.

Don't wait until you infect somebody you love.

Get a vaccine today.

The vaccines are safe effective free.

And available in every community.

And this vaccine could save your life.

This virus is now much more contagious and spreading fast.

It will find you if you're unvaccinated.

I now ask doctor Mandy Cohen our secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and human services to provide us with an update.

On our key trends.

Doctor Cohen.

Thank you governor.

>> It's been some time since we've gone through our trends in our metrics but with the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations we want to make sure North Carolinians have a clear picture.

The viral spread in the state and what's driving it.

So let's dive in.

This first graph looks at people who come to the emergency department with covid-like symptoms.

His earliest detection mechanism and you can see when looking at the yellow line that it's been trending up since the end of June.

It's still below the blue line which is where we were a year ago.

But it's moving in the wrong direction.

Next we look at new cases in this first graph shows you the trajectory of new cases each day since we had our first case back in March of 2020.

The large peak, you see happened in early January before vaccines are widely available.

But the area to look at today is that the right side of the slide where we're starting to see that yellow line rapidly swing upwards.

Today as the governor said we had more than 3,000 cases.

Last time we had more than 3,000 cases in 24 hours.

Was back in February.

I want you to notice the s#*#*#*#* of the yellow line and you can see that this rise in cases is faster then what we have seen with past increases.

This is because the covid virus is now much much more contagious than it was earlier.

Let's zoom in to get a better sense of the rate of increase in the cases that have happened just in the last few weeks on this graph we're looking at cases from the end of May through today.

And you can see a clear picture that our cases have increased rapidly.

Here's another way to think about how things have changed so fast.

The original covid spread from one person to an average of 2 to 3 people.

The Delta variant spreads from one person to an average of 6 people.

And nearly all of that spread is happening amongst people who are not vaccinated.

Since early May North Carolina cases are in 92% of people who are not fully vaccinated.

Next we look at the percent of tests that are positive.

This graph also goes back to the end of May and looking at the yellow line are percent of positive tests is increasing rapidly and is now well above our threshold of 5%.

On our next graph we look at day over day hospitalizations this graph also start to the end of May and you can see looking at that yellow line and that steep s#*#*#*#* up that this trend has increased rapidly and now we surpassed 1100 people in the hospital with covid.

This number has more than doubled in just 2 weeks and has been the fastest increase we've seen since the pandemic started.

Like cases nearly all hospitalizations are people who are not fully vaccinated.

And while we're seeing increases in all age groups admissions have increased by 200% for people ages 50 to 59.

In the past week.

Now this last sot next slide looks at what's happening at the local level.

This map is from the CDC and shows the level of community viral transmission.

Red is high orange is substantial yellow is blue yellow is moderate and blue is low.

And you can see that much of North Carolina is red and orange with high or substantial viral spread.

We do not have anti any blue counties.

This next slide shows why this moment is different from the last time we are experiencing rising trends.

Vaccines are now widely available across the state.

The highest rates of viral spread are happening in areas with low vaccination rates and among again those who are not fully vaccinated as you can see 55% of North Carolinians who can be vaccinated those 12 and older are fully vaccinated and while we've made progress that's still well below where we need to be to end this pandemic some counties are much lower.

About 2 thirds of counties in the state have less than half of their 12 and older population fully vaccinated.

Bottom line.

This is a moment of rapid viral spread driven by a highly contagious virus finding and infecting those who are still on vaccinated.

If you haven't gotten back seat backs unaided yet I urge you to do so now to protect yourself and your community getting vaccinated prevent serious illness hospitalization and death and slows community spread of this virus.

Rigorous clinical trials among thousands of people ages, 12 and older have proven that vaccines are safe and effective.

More than a 160 million Americans have been safely vaccinated.

Today we're updating our guidance to respond to this current context and our guidance is clear if you are not vaccinated you need to continue to practice the 3 W's wear a mask in in in all indoor public settings.

Wait 6 feet apart in all public settings and wash your hands often.

In addition if you're not vaccinated you should not gather with unvaccinated people who you do not live with.

If you do please stay outside and keep 6 feet apart.

Also if you're not vaccinated you also should not travel.

They're also still places where everyone in the state still needs to wear a mask settings like health care and public transportation large crowded indoor venues and indoor places with a large number of children.

The take away from all of this is there's only one way out of this pandemic and that is vaccination.

I am thankful to the numerous health systems that are leading the way and requiring vaccinations to protect their health care workers.

Their patients and our communities and the state.

We at the Department of Health and human Services are following their lead.

And the recommendation of the nation's leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American nurses Association and dhhs will be requiring that all employees working at our state operated health care facilities, be fully vaccinated and I want to thank the 76% of our staff members who already are fully vaccinated.

This moment requires action.

Our trends are accelerating at an alarmingly fast rate because of the highly contagious Delta variant.

If you are already vaccinated I call on you to urge you're unvaccinated family and friends to get their shot now.

It's not an understatement to say that you will save lives by doing so.

Take a moment and listen to what doctors from across our state have to say about the urgency to get vaccinated right now.

>> We really are worried that this Delta variant is going to find everyone who is not protected the fact that this is more infectious causing worse outcomes and spread like wildfire in the United States.

I don't believe this is a wait and see period it's time to really roll those sleeves up and get those shots there are more people dying this week than it was last R rates and hospitalizations are going up the people that are losing their lives of the people that are unvaccinated and the good news we know is that the vaccines.

We have effective against this variant and against preventing serious infections in those who do get that bill that these vaccines are safe they're affective and they're necessary for us to try to get back to normal.

>> Look you're rolling the dice you're playing roulette with with this and the longer longer you wait the more and more likely that you are to get this and can suffer really severe consequences from it.

>> Everyone from teens to seniors can get a COVID-19 vaccine was in my spot and see time go.

>> Vaccinations are way out of this pandemic don't wait to vaccinate.

Thank you governor.

>> Thank you doctor.

Cohen and the leadership of your team.

This is discouraging.

It's not the update we wanted to bring the day.

One thing I do know is that many vaccinated people are frustrated and mad.

You've been doing your part.

First with masks and distancing and then with getting your shot.

Thank you for stepping up to do the right thing for yourself and your community.

I'd ask you to step up once more.

And channel that frustration toward pushing you're unvaccinated family and friends.

To do the right thing and get the shot.

You may be the most important messengers we have.

2 more people get back to the vaccine.

We'll continue living with the very real threat of a serious disease.

We will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like the Delta variant.

In North Carolina we are issuing a new executive order and guidance aimed at slowing the spread among the unvaccinated.

And encouraging more people to get their shots.

This order directs state government Cabinet agencies to verify whether their employees are vaccinated.

Unvaccinated employees will be tested at least once a week.

And required to wear a mask.

We are strongly urging other state government agencies and private businesses to at a minimum.

Do the same.

Many businesses are going a step further and would quiring their employees to get vaccinated and I applaud that.

We're at a crossroads in this pandemic.

And we need the private sector to help us increase vaccine rights.

Right now being a good corporate citizen means getting your people vaccinated our economy depends on it.

In addition to our health.

And you know this week the CDC updated its guidance.

And we are recommending people in North Carolina follow these health protocols.

The first relates to schools in accordance with the CDC.

We recommend that all K through 12 schools, require masks for all their students and teachers.

And second going forward.

Everyone in a county with high rates of virus spread.

Including those who have been vaccinated is encouraged to wear a mask in public indoor settings like we are today.

And for North Carolina.

That's already 80% of our counties.

So what's the bottom line here.

It's simple.

Get a vaccine now.

It will protect you and prevent future variants like Delta.

That could emerge to threaten our health and economic recovery.

Do it for yourself.

Do it for your family.

Do it for kids under 12 who can't get a vaccine yet.

Do it today.

I know that hearing these messages is alarming.

Everyone hoped we'd be passed us by day, including me.

But until more people get vaccinated this is the reality we have to confront.

And our state will continue to battle this pandemic by increasing our vaccination rate.

As the only sure way out of this thing.

With me today is our secretary of public safety Erik hooks and our director of emergency management Mike sprayberry.

Brian Tipton and David Payne our sign language interpreters and behind the scenes at Jackie and jasmine that hit here.

Our Spanish language interpreters.

We have people in the room today who oppress and if you'll take the side mikes and I'll be glad to take the first question we also have some online will take some of those in a minute.

>> Hi governor Brian Anderson here with the A P at the law I just want to clarify is the statewide mask mandate lap saying on Friday.

>> Yes, it is.

Businesses know what to do.

People know what to do.

Schools know what to do.

When it comes to masks.

>> And we're encouraging everybody to follow.

>> The CDC.

>> Guidelines that just been put out.

Where we are going to focus he's getting more people vaccinated.

>> At the time of the guidance last week.

Over the prior 2 weeks cases.

Had gone up, 70%.

Hospitalizations have doubled at that time was it a mistake to issue that guidance.

>> What what I'm sorry what the guy did last week for schools saying high school students don't need to wear.

Masks.

>> In some cases so yet we have today updated that guidance and have conformed to the CDC guidance that schools should require K through 12.

Students and teachers to wear a mask.

>> Lester you just pointed to a skyrocketing of cases and hospitalizations.

You've repeatedly said you're making data driven decisions at a time when all metrics are showing the worst metrics and months.

Why and the statewide mask mandate.

>> Because schools know what to do business know what to do people know what to do.

>> We are encouraging everyone.

To wear a mask as per the CDC guidelines.

But we know the real way out of this is vaccines and this is why we are issuing this strong executive order today requiring verification of vaccines from state employees.

And encouraging businesses and other state agencies to do the same.

Many businesses are stepping up the federal government stepping up this is the way to get through this.

>> One quick question for doctor Colin mackay and the masking policies for K 12 students.

We've seen 19 districts, according to an education and see analysis say that they're going to make masks optional for all K 12 students which would include those under 12.

What are you going to do to combat that if anything.

>> Well I think we've been very clear in our tool kit that all school districts should require masks in everyone students and teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade.

I think we've just gone through that our trends are moving in the wrong direction.

We know that our students under the age of 12 do not have the ability to get vaccinated we need to protect them and make sure that our kids can be in the classroom safely we want kids in the classroom and we can do it safely.

We use the protocols that are in those that that tool kit, you know all along we've worked with the Department of Public instruction with the Board of Education with superintendents in schools and so we're going to make sure that they have all the support they need to implement those safety protocols and keep our kids safe.

Thank you, thank you.

>> I Don father, the news observer.

>> So with the school's does that mean that the tool kit updated today and will be change in the future with CDC guidance and if it's I'm Brian I guess already gotten clarification on this about it being up to the school district still.

Can you explain why now is the time for the response to be.

>> At the local level versus statewide level 4 but the school policies and anything dealing with.

>> The CDC guidance about hot spots in the first yes we have conformed higher school guidance and our saying that school boards should require K through 12 students and teachers to get to to wear a mask in school.

And look.

We know that.

The landscape has changed.

Back when we were doing all of the.

Statewide restrictions.

And mandating we really did not have vaccines in place.

Now vaccines are everywhere.

And this is where we need to concentrate.

However, I'm going to ask these local school boards who have voted.

So a few weeks ago to make.

Masks optional.

To look at this again.

I mean look at where the numbers are look at where the numbers are.

In your County.

And think about the danger that students could face.

I think very few states now have a statewide mask mandate and most most of the states are looking at the local districts to make these decisions but we have provided them with excellent bought guidance that I believe a strong and I think at the end of the day, the majority of the students will be covered.

What we're doing here would you have anything to add to that okay and fallen on the on the state employees, those outside or your Cabinet agencies is that up to.

>> The particular Council of state head is that lead worse worse, the authority there.

With any sort of other vaccination verification through for state employees.

I guess is that per department or agency had how does that work.

Yeah my authority extends to Cabinet agencies but independently elected Council of state members would have to make their own death decisions about whether they would follow this side.

>> I hope this will be alike are parental leave for employees.

System that we put in place which I think was very positive.

Many other councils, stay the community colleges universities all started doing it I hope that.

Community colleges universities Council of state.

We'll start doing this as well.

Verifying that employees are vaccinated making sure that those who are unvaccinated are tested at least once a week and are required to wear a mask I think this will encourage more state employees to get vaccinated and we're going to continue to push this forward and hope it expands across the state.

Hope it.

Many other private businesses who have been adopted this yet will adopt it.

One quick follow-up >> with why I'm with the vaccination verification and then adding you know this turtle or I guess incentives or disincentives.

Why not mandated beyond those you know the state-run facilities that are already mandated and is the FDA not giving final approval yet a factor.

>> So we want to make sure that we are pushing people toward vaccination using the tools that we have doctor Cohen you might want to talk about the difference with health care facilities.

>> Thanks Don.

I do think that when we look at our health care facilities, this is a different circumstance where we have a responsibility not only to our our workforce, but to those who are medically frail that we are caring for each and every day and that is why we are following the lead of the American Medical Association, the American nurses Association and our own hospital systems here in saying we have to use the strongest tool we have which is vaccinations to protect our staff and to protect.

The folks that we care for and our in our health care facilities.

I do think it is a unique space where there is a high risk of transmissibility as well as folks who are medically frail and very vulnerable.

Thank you.

>> Highs Jason to run with North Carolina public radio you kind of touched on this already a little bit.

But I wonder if you could maybe go into some detail about the conversations that you had.

As to deciding to go with the verification as opposed to a vaccine requirement for for these you know for the Cabinet.

State employees will this is a big step.

>> Requiring proof from state employees that they have been vaccinated.

And we wanted to make that step.

We believe that this will encourage a lot more state employees to get vaccinated.

So we want to make this step.

I think a lot of people are seeing more and more that this Delta variant is a big problem.

I visit vaccination centers every wake-up talked to a number of people.

Both hearing stories from doctors but also talking to them myself and many people are recognizing in believing that this Delta variant is is a monster and they want to get vaccinated so I think this is going to push us there, I mean there are a lot of options that are on the table into the future, but this is a good step for us to take right now.

>> You might not have this off the top of your head that you have a percentage of the number of cabinet agency said employees who are vaccinated.

>> Not sure about that and that's one of the reasons why we are going to get this information to get verification but it will affect about around 50,000 state employees.

This verification some agencies have been asking people whether they are vaccinated but we want to get this verification in place.

So that we know.

And remember this is to protect other state employees is to protect customers that may come into state employee agencies and to to get this pandemic behind us that's that's why we're doing in the last one.

You referenced.

>> Vaccinated people who are increasingly.

Getting perhaps even angry at the unvaccinated what do you say to those people who are vaccinated and perhaps getting frustrated as to why you're not mandating vaccination and just verifying if there is a vaccination.

>> Well I think we're all in this together I understand the frustration and anger that vaccinated people feel because particularly now this pipe that's coming in the inconvenience and sickness and death that comes with it.

I think we've all got to pull together to do this.

We still have options that are potential out out there.

But this is an important step that will get us more people vaccinated and that is what I'm working to do.

>> David Larson North state journal.

You talk about whether the mask or not ask in schools and encouraging.

Districts to have their students mask is there any clear data on you know whether students in school, younger people are a significant community spread of the virus.

>> I think the Delta variant has shown a pickup there but I will let doctor Cohen address that.

>> Thanks what we have seen is that when we use our safety protocols that we've been using and we've had a number of researchers that have published their studies that Whelan we use those safety protocols our schools are very low transmission spaces which is good.

It's why we want to encourage in-person school we think it's incredibly important.

But it is when you're using those safety protocols which is when you're able to keep the viral spread low.

I will say you know as a governor alluded to we're now in this new moment right Delta is more contagious not just for adults, but for children as well we're seeing more cases in our kids then we had before and so we want to make sure that folks are following those protocols in order to keep those viral levels low make sure the kids can stay in the classroom.

>> And you showed up some charts showing that this for secretary Cohen I guess as well, but I'm showing that the Delta variant was leading uptick in cases is higher transmissibility and also increase in hospitalizations is there any lowering and mortality from from this of heard mixed things on that is it is it.

I didn't see a slide on that but is it a less deadly than the original covid.

>> So it's a great question.

So what we know for sure is that the Delta variant is more contagious rating.

Not many more cases.

And we know that from those cases there's going to be a percentage of folks who get hospitalized in a percentage of the votes that unfortunately the virus is so severe that they die so the more cases you can you can predict more hospitalizations and unfortunate more death do I think it is it is more dangerous.

I don't think we know that for sure, but because of the high rate of contagiousness we're going have so many more cases and so I think we will see more hospitalizations and more deaths but I don't know that I'm in and of itself.

It is more deadly but I would say one of the other reasons why we all need to get vaccinated because I don't want this virus to change again.

I think a combo very contagious and very more deadly that's the worst combination right now, we know we have more contagious.

We know how to we know how to fight against that.

I worry if we put those 2 together that this virus keeps changing its the other reason why we all need to get vaccinated and last thing has has the mortality though increased with the other 2 statistics or is it.

>> Is it not increased at the same right so what I would say is that we're at a very different place in terms of mortality and on a few fronts one is we have treatment which we didn't have a year ago so we do have monoclonal antibodies and one of the things we're trying to do from our department and work with our health Systems is making sure that that patients and doctors know that monoclonal antibodies are available in needs to be used in the first 10 days when someone has symptoms.

And so I think that that that is great and so we do have a treatment.

It is something that needs to be administered in Healthcare settings so it's not a pill, it's not something you can order and pick up at a pharmacy.

So we want to make sure folks know that that is available.

We've also learned a lot about how to treat folks who do have severe covid new protocols and on how to treat them to prone them meaning putting them on their belly and how to how to use oxygen in different ways so I think we've gotten a lot smarter and and our our our doctors have done a great job so I think overall we've seen the mortality rate meaning the number of people dying from covid I'm going going down over time but unfortunately, you know you see every day are are definite numbers do go up so this is still a deadly disease and I think that's why we're taking the steps we are today.

Thank you.

>> Ida question first I related to for the state government employees how long do they have until they need to get vaccinated or to start doing the regular testing and then what consequences does anyone face if they don't comply it will become effective on September the first so we know that there are some ramp up time for Cabinet agencies to get the verification program in placing get there rules together and so that what happened on September the first and then what consequences do employees face if they don't comply with that yeah that's something to be to determine what what we hope and believe is that this will encourage more people to get vaccinated but those who who don't.

We'll have to wear a mask, and we'll have to get tested.

They refused to do that then there will be some consequences to that but that's something that we're going to be working out with human resource officers.

In the Cabinet agencies in the coming days.

What are your thoughts one other thing I was talking to a doctor Duke earlier this week and told me he he's concerned about some kind of mandates in place ultimately or going up seeing.

>> Is the communities with the higher vaccination rates that are generally been cautious throughout the pandemic they are going to institute the rules to put on masks and do the mandates the commute with lower vaccination rates where the virus is spreading more they want are you concerned that's going to be the scenario we're going to see going for it I certainly am concerned about that we are particularly concerned about our areas with lower vaccination rates because bad things happen when a lower percentage of the population.

>> Is vaccinated that's why we is not vaccinated and that's why we're putting so much.

Ivan and emphasis on vaccinations concentrating on some of these areas sending out mobile units helping them in many ways and started going you may want to talk about some of those lower vaccination counties and what we're doing with them.

>> Sure one I I do want to say before I dive into that to say obviously this virus doesn't care about County lines.

But it does care about low vaccination rates and that is what we are very much focused on areas of our state where we see lower vaccination rates we already see higher rates of viral spread so we are already deploying resources everything from testing I was speaking about monoclonal antibodies to communications help and making sure of course that they have a lot of points of access for vaccination so that it we we know where this is going to be an issue our map already shows that that we know that for example in the sandhills area of our state we have low vaccination rates and we're seeing higher rates of a virus spread we're starting to see that in the Charlotte Mecklenburg area actually in the surrounding counties from from Charlotte.

So we are prepay turning resources knowing that this virus is going to track to where there are low vaccination areas.

>> I had one of the question for you doctor Cohen now we saw last week at least based on the preliminary data a pretty significant increase the number of first doses of the vaccine people are seeing that really seen anything like that in a few months since more people became eligible.

Do you think it's concerned about the Delta variant that's primarily driving down at this point.

>> Well, I hope they're hearing our message.

We're I think we've been very clear that this is a pandemic now of the unvaccinated they are at risk this virus is contagious and it will find them and so I hope they are hearing our message and they need to get vaccinated right away.

I also think our schools are doing a very good job of doing some back to school work.

And I was just yesterday for example, visiting wake med they said they opened up a back to school vaccination clinic and it filled up like that which is great to hear.

And so I'm hoping as as we go into that back to school time and folks are getting ready for school that those students who are over the age of 12 and eligible for the Pfizer vaccine get their vaccine as soon as possible.

>> I said one last question for governor Cooper regarding the testing for the state employees how much money to set aside to that what is that going to cost the state to do the regular testing to the employees have to take on that cost themselves.

>> We we have testing resources that would be available to do that they're also outside resources that state employees can use would you want to address that our code.

>> Thanks Michael as you know we've been working very hard to make sure the testing and free testing on is available across the state we've already offered free testing to all of our school districts to make sure that testing is available for them and it is free there are many places across the state and with our health departments we can go and get free testing and we will certainly use that infrastructure for state employees as well thank you.

>> Were you at the moment, the order for businesses particularly is a suggestion was there ever the thought of perhaps going beyond that and.

While it is just a suggested you have an idea of how many businesses and companies may follow through with that such it's a strong recommendation that these companies.

>> Verify vaccination status of their employees.

And those who are unvaccinated making sure they wear a mask and go through testing.

Many private businesses are already doing this and in fact we consulted with them.

So we think even more will do it because I think our businesses in North Carolina really want to protect their workforce.

I think they want to protect their customers.

So I think we're going to see and even more response with this executive order issued with the Delta variant on the rise.

Employers are going to understand that this is a difficult situation unlike before where we work having to talk about.

Gathering limits in mask and all those things that can help slow the spread.

We have the way to get out of this pandemic and it is a vaccine.

So that's where we've got to put our effort right now, and you know not that all of this is other stuff is noise because it can all be important in keeping people healthy and we want to do things like masks and being careful.

The vaccine is the way to get us through this and you were talking earlier to governor about the frustration people have vaccinated unvaccinated would you do as far as to say.

>> That is irresponsible at this point to be an vaccinate yes.

They had the evidence is stark and clear that if you don't get vaccinated not only going to cause problems for yourself.

You will cause problems for other people doctor Cohen just talked about the factor of infection.

Being one a person can spread it to an average of 6 people with this Delta variant.

So yes being a responsible.

I think it's responsible it is patriotic.

It's the right thing to do and not only that I think it's a responsibility particularly of our leaders across the state and country.

For leaders to stand up and say this is important for people to do.

I've got my vaccine.

Everybody needs to go out and get a vaccine.

That's the way we get our economy.

Russian back that's the way we save lives.

>> And this is something that could bring us all together and I'm sensing more of that.

Over the last couple of weeks.

That that more people are beginning to realize that this is the way that we can tackle this thing to gather.

And so I'm hoping that that can happen even more over the next few weeks.

We're got somebody on the line OK. >> Her question is Richard created for the winston-salem journal.

>> A little bit over this is our Richard Craver with the with the same journal I had a couple quick questions I guess one do you have any timeline for when you expect.

School districts that who are making masks optional too.

Respond in terms of mandating the mask in the schools.

>> Well, you know I hope that schools that have taken the this the stand that they're going have mask optional will look at this data that is coming down.

We'll look at the new guidance with the CDC and will reconsider because when you're thinking about the safety of students and teachers.

I think that this is an important step that they can take so a number of school districts are still making decisions and have meetings next week or the week after we have a look at this we hope that they take advantage of this tool kit.

One thing that's so important we're talking about schools is in person learning.

We know we need to have those children in the classroom.

And we also know from the data and research that if we take the steps to protect them like like having mass that the transmission would be low in our schools and our children could be protected.

So we are we are pushing hard in hoping that.

More school systems will do the right thing and require the mask.

Cho follow-up.

>> Yes, is there any concern about the school districts.

This optional masking be in too much of a rural urban issue because it seems like he's seen a lot of the urban school districts go to the universal Aurora cork wine demanding mask a mandates and you're not saying that miss some of the more rural suburban counties.

>> Well there have been some rural counties.

I believe Anson was one of the first ones to say that there we're going to have a mask requirement.

So I don't think it totally breaks down that way we want all school districts in particularly those school districts that have lower vaccination rates to make sure that their students and teachers are protected.

Is there another question.

>> Our next question from their account or a FOX pretty sick.

>> Thank you for taking my question is are telling people not 46 to the school board meeting earlier this week where masks were discussed the initially was paid an option.

The parents were openly laughing at the idea of getting a vaccine that people have posters up their son back seen pills.

How much of a fight hasn't been on the ground level to really counter the narrative from those opposed to the vaccine in trying to get people back to this special in the last 2 weeks.

>> Battling this information is a part of making sure everybody gets vaccinated.

And we do that by vaccinated people who are friends with those who are unvaccinated and who are relying on this information in their decision making.

We want them to be convincing people and we are encouraging people to talk to their doctor.

Doctor after doctor after doctor.

We'll tell you that this Delta variant is so much more contagious and you are at risk.

If you are unvaccinated I talked to a woman.

I think it was in Winston Salem I ask her I thanked her for being there and I said what made you decide to come in now.

And one of the reasons was she said my my doctor told me to get my b#*#*#* in here.

And I think that more doctors were encouraging doctors to proactively.

Reach out to their patrons to tell them how important getting this vaccine is so battling this information comes from trusted people.

And from doctors.

You are anything to that are going.

Next question please.

>> We have a follow up their town for FOX 46.

>> They're David David.

>> I want to keep Martin with Carolina public press.

Hi governor and doctor Cohen thank you so much for taking my call this is Kate Martin Carolina public press.

I'm hoping we can I have a couple questions one has the Department of emergency emergency management still assisting with this effort and with the rising case numbers are you all expecting to increase say the National guard's participation.

Also I'm hoping doctor Cohen can talk in a little bit more detail about the transmissibility of the Delta variant and trying to explain to people who are explain to you know what does it mean.

Like say the old virus used to be.

You were in close contact with someone for 15 minutes like what is the Delta Varian number for that I guess equivalent.

>> So emergency management is very much involved continuing to work with the Department of Health and Human services to clean the area vaccinations and a lot of vaccination sites that I've been to the National Guard has been there.

This morning in Nash County the nurse told me we couldn't have done it without the National Guard, they provide so much expertise and help and glad that we're able to make them available, but will have Mike sprayberry our director of emergency management talk a little bit about more about what the department is doing.

Thank you governor and thank you for the question.

>> That's correct the emergency management will work to support the Department of Health and Human Services.

And secretary Cohen with any support that requested and we also want to be supporting our County partners at the local level with coordination of the National Guard to get our National Guard partners down range to help with vaccination clinics and we really want to penetrate.

Those counties where they have a high rate of vaccine.

Hesitancy so we have people out knocking on doors trying to find those people want to help people that have transportation issues so we're working to get all types of resources to try to really get the word out that you need to go ahead and get your vaccination that's the only way that we're going to bust this pandemic so we do stand ready.

We will continue do stay decisively engaged in the fight against this pandemic with our partners of the Department of Health and Human Services and our.

They're great secretary Mandy Cohen.

>> Hi Kate, thanks for asking about the transmissibility of this new Delta variant.

What we've been talking about as we know that this the virus now is a new virus.

It is much more contagious than what we were even seen just a few months ago.

Back in April we didn't have the Delta variant and now nearly every single case is the Delta variant that just shows how quickly it is moving it is by far the most dominant variant that we have seen thus far I shared a stat before that maybe can help folks understand that.

So a little bit better Pryor if you caught the original covid if you got covid each you'd be able to spread it to about 2 to 3 people on average in and sometimes 0 people sometimes many more but on average shooting 3 people now what we're seeing the Delta variant is that one person is spreading it to 6 people.

So it's much more contagious than what we've seen before I will go back to our team to see if there's an equivalent on the if you are with in Sept so many feet for so much time if that has changed I haven't seen that that specifically change yet I think the same things continue to hold in terms of how this virus gets transmitted.

It goes through the air.

It is more contagious when you are indoors when you are close together for a prolonged period of time except now it is infecting even more people so we know that that that this is more and more contagious.

I think that's why our concern level continues to go up.

And we know that it is really the unvaccinated folks.

Who are at the highest risk as again we've been saying over and over most of these cases are from folks who are unvaccinated which is why please don't wait get your vaccine today.

>> Next question please.

>> Our next question is what happens with the city.

Thank you I haven't had a 2 part question first is could you clarify whether this vaccination verification mandate applies to teachers and other school Bay state employees and if not why not.

>> First that at this time it would not because it's only effective is by my executive order to Cabinet agencies.

Local school districts could begin that process and all employers throughout this day whether be Council of state members whether be private businesses could begin this process of vaccine verification and in fact we hope that they do because that's an important step to get more people vaccinated but also to make sure that those who are unvaccinated are masking and continually getting tests which will impact protect other employees and customers.

Next question.

>> Final question that will conclude today's media briefing from Travis the governor right now.

>> To see them right now.

>> Travis your own.

How much time should I created a mock much cutting off.

Haha.

>> All right.

>> So I have missed that will will try to get back with you through the press office.

Thank you all for coming today, we appreciate it.