>> Well good afternoon, everybody and thank you for joining today's update on COVID-19 in North Carolina.

As of today we have had 404,032 cases.

4,670 new cases reported since yesterday.

2,373 people in the hospital a new record high.

And sadly 5,605 people have died.

We continue to mourn with those who've lost loved ones.

I know this can be especially hard during the holiday season.

As cases across the country continue to rise.

We've seen rapid increases in our key metrics here in North Carolina.

Our case counts have broken single-day records on 3 separate days in just the last week.

And the percent of tests returning positive is increased to more than 10%.

A month ago we were deeply concerned to see daily case count to go above 3,000.

Now we're shocked that the number has doubled with some daily counts that more than 6,000.

The county alert system shows a large increase in orange and red counties.

The most concerning designation signifying substantial in critical spread respectively.

Doctor Mandy Cohen the secretary of Health and Human Services will talk in a minute about that.

I know that news of affective unsafe vaccines has given us all hope.

But facts scenes aren't here yet.

We have to act now to save lives.

Safeguard our hospital capacity and preserve our economy.

Today the state will announce additional action to combat COVID-19.

But first I'd like to ask doctor Cohen to share an update on our trends and our County alert system.

Doctor Cohen.

>> Thank you governor going to jump right into the data is a reminder we look at a combination of trend metrics covid like syndrome cases, new cases, positive test as a percentage of the total tests and hospitalizations.

On our first graph we look at people who have come into the emergency department with covid like symptoms.

This is our earliest detection mechanism.

And you can see when looking at that yellow line that trend has increased sharply.

It is at its highest level since the pandemic began.

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

And you can see the yellow line has a very sharp increase.

We are also experience our highest daily numbers are reported cases since the start of the pandemic if we narrow in on this next graph on the trajectory of cases since early October through today.

You can see a clear picture that are cases are trending up significantly as the governor said we had more than 6,000 cases reported in a single day twice in the past week.

Let's send a month ago on November 11th we had a record day of 3,000 cases now we more than doubled that number on Saturday and then again on Sunday.

To give some perspective.

We had more cases in a single day than the entire population of governor Cooper's hometown of Nashville in Nash County.

We look at the percent of tests that are positive.

This graph also goes back to the beginning of October and looking at the yellow line or percent of tests at of pot that are positive has significantly increased over the past 14 days.

It's been above 10% the last week and again these are our highest rate since early in the pandemic winter testing levels are much much lower.

On the next graph we look at day over day hospitalizations.

This graph also starts in early October and you can see looking at that yellow line this trend also continues to increase significantly.

We're setting records both for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and the number of people in the intensive care units.

We are seeing increases across the state hospitals are feeling.

The strain.

Here is where we are or surveillance data has increased it gets a red X North Carolina North Carolina's trajectory of cases is up it gets a red acts.

North Carolina trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is increasing this also gets a red X and North Carolina's trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing hospitals again are feeling the strain and this is worrisome but today we are able to manage capacity right now at this point so for today, this still gets a yellow line.

Now that we've taken a look at our state wide metrics let's see what's happening more locally.

Given our statewide trend.

It's no surprise that our County alert map.

Presents a sobering picture as a reminder we use a combination of 3 metrics to categories counties case rates per 100,000 people over 14 days.

Percent of tests that are positive and then a 3rd composite hospital impact score.

Using these metrics we then categorize counties into 3 color tears to describe their level of viral spread and health care impact red represents critical orange substantial yellow significant.

Here is the updated County alert map.

Almost half of our counties are red.

In our last report just 2 weeks ago we had 20 counties in the red we now have 48 counties in the red at critical levels of viral spread.

In addition there another 34 counties that are now orange with substantial levels of viral spread.

That means over 80% of counties in North Carolina are red and orange with the remaining 18 in yellow still having significant viral spread.

If you are in a red or Orange County.

You should limit going out to essential activities.

You should avoid people that you don't live with.

On this next slide you can see how quickly things have escalated that first map at the top is from just 3 weeks ago.

There's a lot more yellow than and remember yellow, still means significant viral spread.

As you can see from the map on the bottom.

Our state now is mostly red in orange.

This paints a dramatic picture of where we are these numbers likely do not yet even reflect the impact a Thanksgiving gatherings.

I'm very worried.

This is a global pandemic this virus is highly contagious and dangerous.

But we can slow it down.

Do not wait until it is you or your loved one who is sick with covid to wear a mask wait 6 feet apart and wash your hands often do not wait until it to you or your loved one alone in a hospital bed struggling against this virus.

Do not wait until it's your family that loses someone to COVID-19.

Do those 3 W's now protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.

Your actions can keep people from getting sick saving lives in making sure our hospitals can care for people whether it's for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19.

As you think about the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays.

We have a tough ask.

Please avoid traveling and gathering this holiday season.

If you absolutely must it's essential you get tested ahead of time wear a mask all the time keep it small and keep it outdoors.

This pandemic will not last forever we are so close to having a vaccine.

The first people in Britain began getting COVID-19 shots yesterday and this week the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing data and we could have vaccine in North Carolina as early as next week for those who care for patients with COVID-19 and those working and living in long-term care.

As supplies increase will reach more people.

We will get there until then is up to every North Carolinian to step up and protect each other.

Thank you.

>> Thanks so much doctor Cohen.

As you can see North Carolina's trends are alarming.

His doctor Cohen said more than 80% of our counties are in the orange and red categories.

The very the virus is upon us with a rapid viciousness like we haven't seen before.

Even though we're all frustrated and wary of the fight.

It's more important than ever to take this virus seriously.

So today, I'm announcing new action to slow the spread.

Effective Friday December, the 11th North Carolina will enter into a modified stay at home order.

This order will require people to stay at home between the hours of 10:00PM and 05:00AM.

It means just what it says people are stay at home between those hours.

Businesses including restaurants, bars entertainment venues, personal care businesses and most retail stores and more will be required to close by 10:00PM.

In addition all on site alcohol consumption, sales must and by 09:00PM.

We already have strong safety protocols in capacity limitations in place including a statewide mask mandate.

With this additional action beginning Friday.

We hope to get these numbers down.

Our new modified stay at home order aims to limit gatherings and get people home where they are safer.

Especially during the holidays.

It's also reminder that we must be vigilant the rest of the day.

Wearing a face mask when rich people we don't live with keeping a safe distance from others and washing our hands a lot.

And let me be clear.

We will do more if our trends do not improve.

That means additional actions involving indoor restaurant dining entertainment facilities are shopping in retail capacity.

None of us wants that.

And in fact all of these small businesses need substantially more federal help.

And Congress and the president need to do that now.

However our top priority is and must be saving lives.

Keeping our Healthcare system from being overwhelmed.

For some people saving lives is more than just an idea it's their life's work.

Want to take a moment to thank our frontline health care workers.

The doctors nurses specialists age technicians custodians and more who are making tremendous sacrifices right now to treat our growing number of covid patients.

Despite excruciating physical and emotional stress.

They keep going to work to care for those who need it.

Let's all show that we really care for these heroes by doing our part.

So we can reduce their burden.

When this pandemic came to North Carolina in March.

I know many people didn't expect to be living this way in December.

This year has been tiring and frustrating and painful.

With the holidays here.

Many of us feel it more deeply.

But the stakes are dire.

This is truly a matter of life and death.

We've lost more than 280,000 Americans in this pandemic.

While promising vaccines are so close.

They can help us yet.

Only all of us working together can do that.

Wear a mask even with people you know and trust it helps protect your loved ones and you.

Make your gathering smaller move it outside or better yet moving online.

Stay home when you can and under this order be sure you do so by 10:00PM.

North Carolinians are strong and resilient.

And more than that we look out for each other, especially when tough times demand it.

Dig deep, keep tapping into that North Carolina spirit to keep each other safe.

If we do that I know that we'll get through this and be stronger on the other side.

Also with me today is Department of emergency management chief of staff will re commissioner prisons Todd issue he and our secretary of the Department of Public safety Eric hooks.

Lee Williamson and Brian Tipton our sign language interpreters.

And behind the scenes jasmine but if you're and run that squares our Spanish language interpreters.

We'll now take questions from the media and if you can identify yourself and your organization we would appreciate it will take the first question.

>> The first question is from Aaron Thomas WRAL.

>> Governor Cooper to Aaron Thomas WRAL hope all is well on had a question particularly about I the countdown to the covid vaccine question can a twofold.

>> One art North Carolinians advised to take it and also what's being done to dispel the trust all of our the mistress brother of vaccination particularly with black and brown communities.

>> We are encouraging people to take this vaccine.

What is their turn.

Experts from around the world are examined and this data carefully to make sure that these vaccines are safe and effective.

The preliminary data shows that they are.

People may have some concerns about it, but the risk of getting covid and what might happen after that is so much greater.

Vaccines have done so much to protect people from many different diseases and covid is another one that we look forward to getting out in the population and getting it to people as quickly as possible.

Doctor Cohen would you like to add anything OK.

Next question please.

>> Our next question is from Alice and messed with FOX 8.

Governor.

>> The rounding they can play state has asked local law enforcement to ramp up or handle.

People not on where their structures that are placing on the city of Greensboro.

They did not find they got closure.

But he has said that one complaint they don't want to have to get closure is we have heard from people we have seen pictures of people clearly not comply.

I get asked you can eat hospitalizations go up as we see the cases app when is a not a not been when do we really crack down and say you are not following along and not doing what you're supposed to kill.

There are going to be repercussions.

>> First a lot of people are complying with these orders and are acting responsibly you always have those who do not in some of those do it fly currently.

We are encouraging local governments to use their personnel in to pass ordinances that would allow for fines in other restrictions if businesses and people continue to disobey the rules.

It's so important for us to come together on this.

We we are putting these orders out there in order to get anybody in trouble.

We're putting him out there to save lives.

People need to realize that these things are scientifically proven to help slow the spread of the virus and we need to get it done.

We're looking forward to continuing to work with our local partners are Department of Health and Human Services has stepped up to take action.

Our ABC board says in for law enforcement has stepped up to take action and we need to continue to do that to make sure that people comply.

Next question please.

>> And our next question is from Laura leave with Carolina public press.

Good afternoon governor Charlie from Carolina public press.

As it pertains to the vaccine.

We thought report yesterday 11 hospitals that would.

Initially received this is a vaccine and I'm wondering how and when other Healthcare providers politically they've been we're all areas will receive the vaccine and also it's been reported reports of shortages.

Well I hope the defeated there's reports there have been reports of shortages and I'm wondering if you anticipate the North channel the affected side that come up with a shortage.

>> We have worked very hard to put what I believe will be an effective vaccine distribution plan in place and people are going to be working hard to get the vaccines to people in order of the prioritization as quickly as possible, but I'll let doctor Cohen address those other issues in the question.

>> Hi Laura.

As far as the 11 hospitals we do have 11 sites that are going to be our early ship sites.

Those are 11 sites that had the capacity to do the kind of storage with ultra cold freezers that we needed for the initial Pfizer vaccine.

So we had 11 sites, they're going to get shipped that vaccine and then hold it hold it until the FDA authorizes it and the CDC is advisory committee says gives us the okay.

Within 24 to 48 hours.

We believe we will get a that the vaccine directly shipped from the federal government and Pfizer to about 50 or 60 of our hospital so 11 we'll have it preposition but the rest of those 50 or 60 hospitals will get it as soon as we get that okay from the federal government then the federal government and Pfizer will ship it directly to those 50 somewhat hospitals as you know we have more than a 100 hospitals here in North Carolina.

So we know that first week of shipment will not even touch all of our hospitals.

We are working with those 5660 hospitals to make sure they're ready on Day one when they had when they do get the vaccine to start the vaccination process we've been training on our I T systems making sure that they are getting all their processes in place and know how to store and and to do the vaccinations themselves.

So we are are getting ready and planning but the supplies are limited at first.

And so we are going to work with the allocations that the federal government gives us.

We hope by the second week we may even have 2 different types of vaccine.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine here in North Carolina by week 2 that will certainly increase or supply, but again still going to be limited so right at first, it's really going to be just to our hospitals for health care workers who are working directly with covid patients either clinical staff or that cleaning and environmental staff who work directly with covid patients are in covid units.

We're also going to be working with Walgreens and CVS to begin vaccinations in all of our long-term care facilities both the residents and the staff to those any the first folks because again lore as you mentioned your question there is going to be a limited supply at first and so that is where the vaccine will go as we start thank you.

Next question please.

>> I mean we have a follow-up Laurie Carolina, public press.

Thank you for that.

I'm just wondering we've seen in other states.

Read their use and storage facilities institutions outside of hospitals for example to the field.

And we've seen in North Carolina.

These are state is universities, I'm just wondering if there it's a possibility or maybe even the plan of using freezer space.

Non-hospital settings to keep it back and called.

>> All right thanks for that question.

So the company Pfizer that has manufactured this vaccine has also created the ability for us to have dry ice in order to keep those vaccines of the proper storage temperature.

So we believe with the cold storage that we have now as well as the dry ice available through the Pfizer process that we will have the did the type of all to cold storage and certainly we are looking at other places if we might need to tap into them, but because the supplies are limited at first and we are targeting it to our health care settings we went to make sure that we could have our health care settings be the ones that are receiving that those first vaccines that require that will trickle storage, thanks.

Next question please.

>> And our next question is from dawn Vaughn with the news and observer.

>> I don't bother him as a newsman server I asked about the time frame of the curfew from 10 defendant is there.

And what happens in that time period that means that the viral spread a bit more about alcohol consumption as a factor in the business and then with this order leading to really quickly doesn't from January 8% like this for weeks.

>> How they are back in distribution timeline factor into the restrictions timeline.

>> I think I think it's pretty clear that the later in the evening you go that larger some of these gatherings can be at some of these business as people become more uninhibited and people that get closer together and can be more opportunities to spread the virus and what we're trying to do is to chip away at those times to slow the spread of the virus by trying to avoid these indoor gatherings that we see and this.

Stay at home order after 10 tells people they just really need to go home, they don't need to be gathering in other people's homes, they don't need to be gathering in other places or any of these retail establishments, they'd be home because they're safer at home.

And you're slowing down the spread of the virus.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't be careful.

From 05:00AM to 10:00PM at night during the day you need to be careful during the day need to wear the mask and keep social distancing in.

We have the mask mandate that's been in place all of the time and we have gathering limits in capacity.

Protocols for all of these retail establishments and we want employers under construction in manufacturing to do the things they need to do to protect their employees there.

So it's it's happening all the time that this this attempt this modified stay at home order is try to cut out some of those times and to send a signal to everybody.

How important it is to not be at these gatherings and to protect yourself when you're around other people who don't live with.

Next question please.

>> There are follow-up Dunbar news and observer.

>> Things are falling.

But yeah about the vaccine timeline and if we have maybe a certain number of people you know beyond that first wave or 2 that are vaccinated that will change for their restrictions are and then we just mentioned private gathering as far as people going home and not just the local law enforcement so important.

>> It's up to local law enforcement, but a number of local governments are adopting ordinances and they have other employees that they can use to and fro forces ordinances and we are encouraging that like I say we're not instituting these orders to get people in trouble.

We're trying to provide these important guidelines to tell people what they need to do in order to slow the spread of this virus is which but we've got to do as for the of vaccines.

We're not looking at them having a major effect on viral spread.

In the near future here.

We're only going to have a few doses at the beginning and I might let doctor Cohen address that.

>> Thank you governor that's exactly right and I want to remind folks that with both vaccines that are under review by the Food and Drug Administration they require 2 doses.

So even when we say we're getting a first dose of 85,000 doses and we move into a second week.

It's not going to be until 21 or 28 days later that that for the first folks get their second dose.

So we have a a lot of work ahead of us to make sure that folks get not just one but 2 vaccines before they are protected from the from covid so that does not impact our timelines at this point in terms of thinking about restrictions, but we certainly want everyone to make sure that they're thinking about wearing a mask waiting 6 feet apart and washing their hands all the time no matter what time of day to us thanks.

Next question please.

>> Our next question is from amber Lakewood W I PM.

Hi governor, this is amber likely W I can move in Greenville on my question is a lot of people look at the hospitalization and the available bed as the figure could be concerned about but just last night by health CEO here and bring both pointed out that is the employees as well that we need to be concerned with the virus is sidelining the many and basically just saying that the employees or higher can you comment on that.

>> It's one of the reasons I wanted to lift up health care workers in my comments today because.

Many of them are tired and frustrated because they are on the frontline and when they see people who would violate the rules and who don't seem to care about.

This virus being transmitted from one person to the other that frustrates them as well so I'm encouraging everybody for for us to pull together not only to slow the spread of this virus but to help out.

The health care workers who are on the front line.

And when you talk about bed capacity.

It is just as much if not more making sure that hospitals have the personnel to take care of the people.

They may have additional bed capacity that they may not be able to put patients there because they may not have enough workers available to do it.

So hospitals right now will say that doctor Cohen in the team and I frequently talked to hospital ceo's across North Carolina.

Keep in constant contact with them.

They're making hard decisions right now about.

Whether they surge whether they start cutting back on procedures that are not emergency procedures.

And are there elective procedures and they are making those hard decisions to make sure that they have the capacity both in the bed space.

And with personnel to deal with increased cases because we know we are continuing to see and increasing the viral spread and that's why this executive order is important and that's why I'm urging North Carolinians to to pull together on this and to try to help these health care workers and to try to slow the spread of this virus.

You want to add anything to that dock okay.

Next question place.

>> Our next question is from Marino Boyle with wbtv.

>> Good afternoon governor that is Maureen o'boyle from wbtv we were talking about the back of the incoming the first wave.

A question.

Some people are asking is people who have already tested positive for COVID-19 but should they be anticipating that they too should be getting the vaccine or what should they just say I'm going to be at the end of the line.

What will it be it will people who had COVID-19 the encouraged as well to get the vaccine.

>> Well first, I don't think we know for sure yet the kind of immunity that someone has.

After they have had COVID-19 in how long that immunity would last but I asked doctor Cohen to specifically address your question about vaccine.

>> I Marine great question, the governor is exactly right is that we don't yet have all of that information we're going to see how the FDA, their external advisory board as well as the cdc's advisory board how they make their final assessment of the data and how they're going to make recommendations for those who have already had covid so stay tuned.

We will certainly be digging into that it may be something that they aren't able to make a judgment on at this at this point but we hope that they'll continue to look at the data again some of the trials continue to go on to they can collect more data so we can better understand how folks who have had covid need to interact with with a vaccine or not.

My assumption is that we are going to be asking everyone to get a vaccine whether or not you had covid but again we're going to wait for that final word from the FDA as well as the CDC advisory bodies, thank you.

>> Thank U next question.

>> We have a follow-up Marino Boyle wbtv.

>> Doctor Cohen if I could ask you please could you speak to those people were saying the age group F 22.

Early 50's to be that the largest group of people who are testing positive.

Can you speak to those people specifically about their role in.

Of being in places where we are seeing community spread what do you want to say directly to those people out there who don't mean to be following social distancing gathering capacity numbers and they are being a part of the community spread.

>> Yeah Maureen thanks for that question really important that we have to understand we're all in this together no matter your age no matter where we live in this state or in this country.

We all impact each other let me give you a very concrete example, some of his 32 may feel like they don't they don't have they're not at high risk, but they're good friend works at a long-term care center they work at a nursing home and they're they're gathering together and then maybe don't they don't feel like they have a risk but then they passed it on to their friend who also feels well goes into work and unfortunately spread that virus to some of our most medically frail in a nursing home.

Right that's how this virus works right you you can spread it when you don't know you have it and even if you are at lower risk for severe disease you can give it to someone who then comes into contact with someone who is has who could have severe disease so unfortunately this virus doesn't show its head.

When we need it to you you can spread this virus when you don't know you have it which is exactly why we talk about masks masks mass mass prevent you from spreading the virus to others who can give it to them then again anyone they come into contact with who could unfortunately get sick and die.

And what we're seeing in our numbers that we shared over and over today is that more and more people are going into the hospital.

They're going to the hospital very ill and unfortunately because we are trying to keep this virus level low there alone in those hospital beds on our frontline health care workers are with them day in and day out caring for these folks and that's who we're doing this for it to make sure it's not your loved one.

Alone in a hospital bed we need to act right now.

Thanks.

>> Next question please.

>> Our next question is from Andrea blandford ABC 11.

I got in or if Andrea blandford ABC 11.

You said multiple times over the last few weeks but it is the informal social gatherings among families and communities leading to the viral spread in the clusters so how will closing a restaurant or business.

Earlier stop these in-home gatherings, especially during the day.

And how do you keep people from getting together.

Thank you.

>> Well, the informal gatherings are not the only place that spreading a virus occurs it's whenever people are together.

Indoors, particularly as the weather gets colder in places where they gather.

Places like restaurants where you have to take off your mask to eat.

Those are places where the virus can be spread.

One of the reasons why we're entering this modified stay at home order is because we don't want people to go over and visit or gathered together outside of their homes or in another person's home during this time because we are seeing more viral spread and this is descending a minute message to the people of North Carolina that we have to be more careful we have to do more to help those frontline health care workers to prevent more people from dying alone in a hospital bed in order to be able to slow the spread of this virus.

Next question please.

>> Our next question is from Michael Hyland CBS 17.

Hi governor, this is Michael Hyland from CBS 17 is regarding the curfew in other states that have tried this already is there any clear evidence show that this is indeed effective.

>> Might this have the unintended impact of driving people into homes when other places will be closed.

>> We've seen this work in Massachusetts and Ohio with some success.

It's hard to measure at this point because we're right in the middle of all of this this and a lot of other factors are coming into play.

Whenever you reduced the times that people are together indoors.

You are making a difference.

And I think you know a lot of people want to do the right thing I think most North Carolinians want to do the right thing and if we were saying it's really important for you to be home after 10 and not to be gathering in other places.

I think a lot of North Carolinians will do that it's one of the reasons we wanted to get this out there today.

We we have other things that we can do we have more tools that we can use to to fight the spread of this virus, but we think right now if we do this and people.

Or abide by then it will make a positive difference.

Next question please.

>> And you know follow-up Michael Hyland CBS 17.

Titus may be a question Sir doctor Cohen but with the numbers we saw over the weekend where we had more than 6,000 new cases reported each stage.

>> Are we able to attribute that to Thanksgiving yet first before seeing numbers at that point you're seeing we're still watching the full impact of gatherings from Thanksgiving how much higher are you anticipating the case is going in the next a week or 2.

>> That what they will tell you is we're just beginning to see that Thanksgiving impact but I'll let doctor Cohen address that more specifically.

>> Thanks Michael and I consulted with our epidemiologist team.

They were.

Unfortunately sharing that we yet have have yet to see the impact fully of Thanksgiving gatherings if you think about it if someone went to Thanksgiving, they were feeling pretty well this hopefully if they're feeling sick, they would have stayed home these are folks that went to Thanksgiving.

We're feeling well, but then came down with with covid in the next number of days and they were likely the ones that may have spread it to other family or friends over Thanksgiving.

So what we saw last week in our numbers I think was likely those who went to Thanksgiving already sick.

So what I expect to see this week is people who now are are going to be coming back covid positive because they were with those who are unfortunately second Thanksgiving so I do expect our numbers to go up over the course of this week it's exactly why we are taking the actions.

We are today we need to work exceptionally hard to get our numbers back down having 6,000 new cases in one day is really really worrisome and we have a lot of work to do and I think the actions.

The governor is taking today.

Exactly what we need at this moment to try to slow the spread of this virus.

And so we all need to work together on that.

>> Next question please.

>> Our next question from Brian Anderson with the Associated Press.

Hi governor had to call in Boerne Anderson here with the P thing for the question.

I'm just curious, I'm looking for the language of the order any business is entirely shut down or any capacity limits reduced and also can you sort of explain whether target and wal-mart which closed at 11.

But you have groceries available are going to be allowed to stay open past and whether the 10:00PM that is imposed on them as well.

>> None of that capacity limits have been reduced.

Most retail establishments will have to close at 10.

Unless you are selling groceries food.

Pharmacy or fuel.

There is a moving back of the time for alcohol sales last on site consumption.

Alcohol sales have to be at 09:00PM and no other businesses is this does not affect construction.

And manufacturing if they happen to have a 3rd shift people can still go to and from work during this period of time.

Next question please.

>> Our next question from Alex shabaab wcnc.

>> Governor and doctor Cohen.

There are some positive developments with the Pfizer vaccine today about its efficacy and safety and just curious if you governor and you have secretary Cohen.

Have any plans to take the vaccine and if so when.

>> I plan to roll up my sleeves and take this vaccine as soon it is my turn.

You can go to the dhhs website and see the plan we're doing frontline health care workers first and then long-term care facilities and then people with 2 or more.

Chronic conditions.

There is schematic of how we're doing it but I encourage people to do it and as soon as it's my turn I will roll up my sleeve in do it and I you know that doctor Cohen will as well.

Next question please.

>> And our final question today from well Michael's with W UNC.

>> Governor well Michael said Wu and the you touched on this a bit but I want to talk about the report out today from researchers at Duke and UNC saying that well there are regional differences that as a state hospitals are about 6 weeks away from being a capacity if the current trends continue.

Hospitals have said they're ready to take action is necessary like limiting elective procedures, but at the state level.

What red flags are you looking for and at what point would you implement stricter measures to prevent hospitals from reaching capacity.

>> I appreciate that and we're grateful for this report from Duke and UNC and we've been getting information from this group all along very early in the pandemic and now lately and so I have looked at that doctor Cohen in the team is a look at that.

One of the reasons why we are taking action today because we know that hospital capacity is threatened here.

And we can do things to prevent that the study I think showed what would happen if we aren't doing anything else.

And so we are doing that's something else today to try to effect this trajectory.

I think it's really important for us to continue to work with our hospitals so that they can have the beds that are necessary the ICU beds, the ventilators and the staff to do the job.

Next question please.

OK, thanks.

We appreciate all of you being with us today this order takes effect Friday.

Please do everything you can to keep you and your family in your friends and others you contact in contact with safe.

Thank you.