>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BRIEFING.

WE'VE HAD 10,541 NEW COVID CASES SINCE FRIDAY'S REPORT.

WE HAVE 1630 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID AND SADLY 19,167 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

NOW WITH HOLIDAY GATHERINGS COVID CASES BEGINNING TO RISE AND A NEWLY NEW HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT ON THE WAY.

WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH SOME IMPORTANT MESSAGES ABOUT HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY PROTECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THESE ACTIONS ARE URGENT HAS NORTH CAROLINA AND THE NATION BRACE FOR THE IMPACT OF THE EVEN MORE CONTAGIOUS OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19.

GET BOOSTED.

IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTER.

GET ONE RIGHT AWAY.

I KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT DON'T.

GET A BOOSTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH BECAUSE IT ADDS AN IMPORTANT LAYER OF PROTECTION, PARTICULARLY AGAINST THE OMICRON VARIANT.

GET TESTED.

IF YOU PLAN TO GATHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FIND A WAY TO GET TESTED BEFORE YOU DO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OR HAVE AT HOME RAPID TESTS READY.

WE ARE URGING OUR PARTNERS TO RAMP UP TESTING STATEWIDE TO MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE.

AND INCOMING NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY CODY KINSLEY, WE'LL SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.

3RD.

GET VACCINATED IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT.

COVID REMAINS A DEADLY RISK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

THE OMICRON WADE IS MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN DELTA.

AND ONLY WEEKS AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW DAYS AWAY.

IF YOU AREN'T YET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND GET YOUR FIRST SHOT.

LASTLY WHEN YOU'RE INDOORS IN PUBLIC WEAR A MASK.

THE OMICRON VARIANT IS SPREADING FAST AND A MASK CAN HELP REDUCE THE CHANCE PEOPLE GET INFECTED.

RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE THE BEST SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID SERIOUS ILLNESS.

DO THE YOURSELF AND INSIST THAT OTHER OIL AND YOU DO THEM TOO.

MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET INFECTED, INCLUDING SOME ARE VACCINATED BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED IT'S HOW SICK YOU GET.

THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT VACCINATED AND ESPECIALLY BOOST TO PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH SAFER.

DESPITE THE SERIOUS CONCERNS WE'RE IN A MUCH STRONGER POSITION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON COMPARED TO LAST FOR ONE MAIN REASON.

THE REMARKABLE COVID-19 VACCINES THAT ARE SAVING LIVES EVERY DAY.

WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS CHRISTMAS.

THIS VACCINE IS A BIG ONE.

AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO ASK DOCTOR MANDY COHEN THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OMICRON AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES DOT CO.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

>> I HAVE 2 MESSAGES FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS TODAY.

FIRST THE NEWEST VARIANT OF COVID-19 OMICRON IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS.

WE'VE SEEN YET AND WILL LIKELY SET RECORD HIGH DAILY CASE NUMBERS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU CAN ACT NOW TO BEST PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

SO LET'S START WITH WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OMICRON TO DATE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT IT IS 2 TO 3 TIMES AS CONTAGIOUS AS THE DELTA VARIANT, MAKING IT 4 TO 6 TIMES AS CONTAGIOUS AS THE ORIGINAL COVID-19 VIRUS.

FORTUNATELY EARLY EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT ILLNESS FROM THE OMICRON VARIANT MAY BE LESS SEVERE.

HOWEVER, IT STILL CAN PROPOSE CAN POSE A DANGER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED AND PARTICULARLY THOSE AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING RECORD HIGH NUMBERS OF COVID-19 CASES AROUND THE WORLD.

AS WELL AS IN THE UNITED STATES.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, NEW YORK HAD ITS HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED IN A DAY SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THIS IS NOT HOWEVER A MOMENT TO THROW UP OUR ARMS IN THE AIR.

IT IS A MOMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH HOSPITAL CARE FOR EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

FIRST AS THE GOVERNOR SAID BOOSTERS ARE CRITICAL.

EARLY EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT BOOSTERS PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST OMICRON AND I URGE EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN VACCINATED TO GET YOUR BOOSTER AS SOON AS YOU ARE ELIGIBLE DO NOT WAIT.

GETTING A BOOSTER IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE.

THAT MEANS IF YOU ARE 65 AND OLDER YOU NEED A BOOSTER NOW.

IF YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION YOU NEED A BOOSTER.

NOW.

IF YOU LIVE OR WORK IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY.

YOU NEED A BOOSTER.

NOW.

IF YOU ARE A HEALTH CARE WORKER YOU NEED A BOOSTER.

NOW.

AS A REMINDER IF YOU'VE GOT THE MODERNA OR PFIZER VACCINE YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER YOUR SECOND SHOT, IF YOU'VE GOT THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE YOU SHOULD GET A BOOSTER AT LEAST 2 MONTHS AFTER YOUR SHOT.

SECOND IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DECIDE TO GET VACCINATED.

WELL YOU WON'T BE FULLY VACCINATED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITH EACH SHOT.

YOU WILL GET MORE PROTECTION FROM SEVERE ILLNESS HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

LIKE DELTA OMICRON WILL CAUSE THE MOST SUFFERING AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

WE STILL NEED TO MASK.

EVERYONE EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED YOU WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC INDOOR SPACES AND IF POSSIBLE WHERE A MEDICAL GRADE MASK FOR MORE PROTECTION MEDICAL GRADE MASK INCLUDE SURGICAL MASK, PROCEDURAL MASK, KN 95 MASK LIKE THE ONE I'M WEARING TODAY OR AN N 95.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAYS, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOURSELF.

LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT TRAVELING.

HE SHOULD ONLY TRAVEL IF YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 AND IT HAD YOUR BOOSTER.

IF YOU DO TRAVEL WHERE A MEDICAL GRADE MASK, EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AND YOU SHOULD GET TESTED.

ONE TO 2 DAYS BEFORE TRAVELING.

THE SAFEST WAY TO GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS IS VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.

EVERYONE SHOULD ALSO GET TESTED ONE TO 2 DAYS BEFORE GATHERING.

KEEP GATHERING SMALL AND HOST THEM OUTDOORS WHEN POSSIBLE.

IF YOU DO GATHER INSIDE USE A SPACE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SPACE OUT AND OPEN UP WINDOWS AND DOORS TO INCREASE AIRFLOW.

AND OF COURSE IF YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE SYMPTOMS.

DO NOT HOST OR ATTEND A GATHERING AND MAKE SURE TO GET TESTED.

TODAY WE'VE RELEASED A SECRETARIAL ADVISORY THAT OUTLINES EVERYTHING I JUST DISCUSSED AN INCOMING SECRETARY CODY KINSLEY WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORT TO SUPPORT TESTING ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS SUPPORT OUR HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PARTNERS.

BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE MANY MORE CASES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS EVEN AMONG THOSE VACCINATED.

HOWEVER, WHILE VACCINES MAY NOT PREVENT SOME PEOPLE FROM GETTING COVID-19 INFECTION.

THEY DO PROVIDE STRONG PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

I IMAGINE THAT MANY OF YOU LIKE ME ARE FRUSTRATED TO HEAD INTO YET ANOTHER HOLIDAY SEASON UNDER THE SHADOW OF THIS PANDEMIC HOWEVER THERE'S A MAJOR DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE THE STRONGEST TOOLS AVAILABLE TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH.

VACCINES.

IT'S URGENT TO ACT NOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS GET VACCINATED GET BOOSTED AS SOON AS YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

>> THANKS DOCTOR.

COHEN.

WE THOUGHT LAST WEEK MIGHT BE YOUR LAST TIME AT THE PODIUM, BUT THIS PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO THROWS CURVE BALLS.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION RIGHT UP TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

NOW I'M PLEASED TO ASK CODY KINSLEY, THE CURRENT CHIEF DEPUTY SECRETARY AND SOON TO BE SECRETARY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE STATE'S WORK TO PREPARE FOR THE LOGISTICS OF BATTLING THIS LATEST SEARCH.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR COOPER, AND SECRETARY COHEN.

>> AS THE OMICRON VARIANT SPREADS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE IMPACT OF A POTENTIAL RECORD HIGHS SURGE IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

TO PREPARE WE'RE FOCUSING ON 3 THINGS FIRST PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE TO COVID-19.

THOSE WHO LIVE IN NURSING HOMES AND OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

SECOND SUPPORTING HOSPITALS TO HAVE ENOUGH HOSPITAL BEDS TO SERVE PATIENTS, SICK WITH COVID-19 AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.

FINALLY ENSURING NORTH CAROLINIANS HAVE ACCESS TO TESTING.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE BOOSTER SHOTS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND STAFF.

WE ARE ENSURING EACH FACILITY HAS EASY ACCESS TO VACCINATIONS AND READY PARTNER TO ADMINISTER THOSE CRITICAL SHOTS.

WE WANT OUR STATE OPERATED HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND THEY ARE AS OF TODAY MORE THAN 90% OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS IN OUR STATE OPERATED LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BOOSTER.

AS COVID-19 INFECTIONS INCREASE.

WE EXPECT CASES OF SEVERE ILLNESS, PARTICULARLY OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE TO RISE AS WELL.

THEREFORE SECOND.

WE MUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAINTAIN HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

SO THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED WHETHER THAT'S FOR COVID-19 OR HEART ATTACK OR A CAR ACCIDENT OR CANCER TREATMENT.

OUR HOSPITALS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF STRAIN AS CASES GROW.

WE HAVE JUST OVER 20,000 IMPATIENT BEDS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AS OF YESTERDAY 78% OF THEM WERE FILLED.

IN THE ICU WE'RE AT 81% OF CAPACITY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE TO COORDINATE PREPAREDNESS MEASURES TO PRESERVE INPATIENT BED CAPACITY.

SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY GOING INTO EFFECT.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM IS ALSO READY TO ACTIVATE OUR SYSTEM TO COORDINATE PATIENT TRANSFERS FROM OVERCROWDED HOSPITALS TO THOSE WITH AVAILABLE BEDS.

AND WE KNOW WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE CALLING ON OUR FRONT LINE HEROES WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.

TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH.

WE'RE ENCOURAGING ALL HOSPITAL STAFF TO GET BOOSTERS.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT EVERYONE CAN HELP PROTECT HOSPITAL CAPACITY BY FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE OUTLINED BY SECRETARY COHEN VACCINATE BOOST TEST AND MASK.

IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED IT IS NOT TOO LATE.

FINALLY TESTING IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOOL.

AS SECRETARY COHEN OUTLINED TESTING BEFORE YOU GATHER CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF OMICRON AND IF YOU TEST POSITIVE QUICKLY SEEKING OUT TREATMENT CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE.

TESTING IS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE.

DURING THE DELTA WAVE, LOUD ACROSS THE STATE WERE PROCESSING UPWARDS OF 86,000 TESTS PER DAY WITH TURNAROUND TIMES OF ONE AND A HALF DAYS ON AVERAGE.

BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE ALSO NOW SEE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE AT HOME TESTING AVAILABLE.

WE'RE COMMUNICATING CLOSELY WITH OUR TESTING VENDORS.

LABORATORIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CLOSELY MONITOR TESTING SUPPLY AND WILL WORK TO ENSURE TESTING IS AVAILABLE FOR PRIORITY POPULATIONS.

IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF TESTING.

THERE ARE FREE TESTING SITES AND HOME TESTING OPTIONS READILY AVAILABLE.

VISIT NC DHHS .GOV SLASH GET TESTED WHERE YOU WILL FIND TESTING LOCATIONS NO-COST OPTIONS AND HOW TO ORDER HOME TEST KITS.

WE AND OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT THOSE AT MOST RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS FROM COVID-19 AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR HOSPITALS ARE THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED CARE.

I ASKED NORTH CAROLINIANS TO ALSO DO THEIR PART.

WE CAN PROTECT YOURSELF YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY GETTING YOUR BOOSTER SHOT AS SOON AS YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY VACCINATED GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE NOW.

THANK YOU CODY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TEAMS WORK THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE'S PREPARED.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AND DISMAYED BY THIS WAVE OF INFECTION RIGHT HERE AT CHRISTMAS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS DISEASE.

WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.

VACCINES.

BOOSTERS TESTING AND MASKS WHEN NEEDED.

WITH EVERY DOSE.

WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO TURNING THE TIDE OF THE SICKNESS AND DEATH BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

AND AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE STATE THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.

MY FAMILY IS VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

SO WE WILL GET TESTED.

THEN GATHER FOR FOOD, PRAYER, PRESENTS, HUGS, AND TIME WITH EACH OTHER.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP WORKING EVERY DAY TO KEEP US HEALTHY AND SAFE.

ALSO WITH US TODAY AS OUR SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, EDDIE BUFFALOE.

AND NORTH CAROLINA DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL REY.

OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER IS MARK LEINBERGER AND BEHIND THE SCENES JASMINE METIVIER AND ANGIE, OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.

WE'LL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR IN PERSON.

MEDIA WHO ARE HERE AND OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

I CAN'T SEE BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT, SORRY.

HEY, ROSE.

>> ROSE HOBAN, NC HEALTH NEWS.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR QUESTIONS TODAY.

YOU KNOW COLORADO IS OFFERING FREE RAPID TESTS LIKE THE BINAX THAT JASON HAS HERE WITH THEM.

TO THEIR CITIZENS AS THEIR PLAN TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE CDC HAS ENDORSED A TEST TO STAY PROTOCOL FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

>> SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AS MUCH TESTING AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND I KNOW WE HAVE SUPPLIED SOME SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TEST TO OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHICH ONE OF YOU CODY, YOU WANT TO TAKE TAKE THAT ONE.

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

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE'VE PUSHED OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TEST RAPID TEST TO OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OF COURSE WE HAVE STATEWIDE TESTING VENDORS THAT ARE PROVIDING TESTING IN SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS THE TESTING QUESTION THAT YOU MENTIONED, AND WE'LL STILL ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO ON TO OUR WEB SITE BECAUSE THERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET TESTING KITS MAILED TO YOUR HOUSE THAT ARE FREE OF CHARGE SAYS A LOT OF TESTING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO FOLKS INCLUDING AT HOME ONCE.

TESTING WEBSITE, IT'S NCDHHS .GOV SLASH GET TESTED.

>> NO THERE'S YOU KNOW THERE'S LESS ABILITY TO TRACK THE RESULTS OF THOSE RAPID TESTS RIGHT BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET YOU KNOW SENT TO A CENTRAL LAB.

THINKING OF SOME KIND OF APP OR SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN SORT OF UPLOAD THEIR TEST RESULTS IT SO YOU CAN SERVE TRACK WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE.

I THINK THE AT-HOME TESTS HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

AND SO YOU KNOW WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED ALL OF THAT INFORMATION REPORTED TO US.

>> I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS GUIDANCE FOR PROVIDERS ON IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME IN WITH A POSITIVE AT HOME COVID TESTS THAT THEY CAN USE THAT TO EITHER BEGIN A COURSE OF TREATMENT OR WHATEVER STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO TO MAKE AN PLACE WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT THE I DON'T SAYS THAT IT IMMEDIATELY GIVES YOU INFORMATION ON HOW BEST TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS AND THEN I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.

>> AND THUS PROBABLY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT WHAT ARE YOU FOLKS DOING TO INCREASED ACCESS TO BOOSTER SHOTS WITH FOR PRISON STAFF AND PRISONERS IN THE STATE'S CAR SIR FACILITIES.

SO WE WANT.

>> ACCESS TO ALL KINDS OF VACCINATIONS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING A IN OUR DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW IF SECRETARY BUFFALOE OR DOCTOR COHEN WOULD WANT TO ASK THE STANCE FOR SPECIFICALLY THAT QUESTION BUT WE KNOW WE WANT VACCINES AS MANY PLACES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW WE'VE DONE IS OFFERED INCENTIVES FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS TO GET VACCINATED.

SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET VACCINES AND BOOSTERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE WILL HAVE A SOMEWHAT LOW, I MEAN A LOWER RATE THAN SAY YOU KNOW HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND OTHER FOLKS YOU KNOW HOW HOW CAN YOU.

>> BECAUSE ONCE IT GETS INTO A PRISON.

IT JUST.

SO WE HAVE BEEN.

I THINK SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A LOT OF INMATES VACCINATED.

>> AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON GETTING CORRECTIONS OFFICERS VACCINATED OVERALL SINCE I SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WE'VE SEEN A SURGE IN VACCINATIONS AMONG STATE EMPLOYEES BY ABOUT 10%.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS EFFORT TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> LAURA LESLIE WRAL SO OKAY, A FEW QUESTIONS NUMBER ONE AND I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN BEST ADDRESS THIS WHEN DO YOU EXPECT OMICRON TO BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT HOW LONG AS THE WINDOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> SO DOCTOR COHEN I'LL LET YOU TACKLE OUT.

>> THANKS LAURA.

SO RIGHT NOW THE DOMINANT VARIANT IS DELTA.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING PREDOMINANTLY ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT THE THE SPEED AT WHICH OMICRON IS MOVING THAT WE ARE SEEING BOTH IN EUROPE.

NOW IN THE NORTHEAST AND WE EXPECT THAT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'RE ALREADY SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OMICRON CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING ALL ACROSS THE STATE WE'VE IDENTIFIED OUR FIRST CASES, BUT NOW WE'RE REALLY SEQUENCING IT FROM NEARLY ALL OF OUR MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND SO I BELIEVE BY THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY CERTAINLY INTO THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY.

THAT IT MAY BE.

IT CERTAINLY RISING TO THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT AND THEN WE MAY HAVE BOTH DELTA AND OMICRON SIDE BY SIDE FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING PREPARED FOR ITS WHY FOLKS NEED TO GET BOOSTERS NOW THERE'S STILL TIME IF YOU GO OUT AND GET A BOOSTER TODAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE FULLY VACCINATED RIGHT BY THE EARLY PART OF JANUARY AND AND BOOSTED SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO ACT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU JUST TO CLARIFY DID YOU DID YOU JUST SAY THAT ALL MAJOR HOSPITALS ARE FIGHTING ON THE FRONT.

>> NEARLY ALL ARE ABLE TO SEQUENCE IT IN IT I WOULD SAY THE VAST MAJORITY ARE ALREADY FINDING CASES AGAIN IT'S NOT THE DOMINANT ONE YET, BUT IT IS IN ALL PARTS OF OUR STATE.

NOT SURPRISING.

IT IS INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS.

IT IS MOVING VERY FAST THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS BRIEFING TODAY TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW TO ACT QUICKLY.

>> ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON THAT THERE'S IS REPORTING THAT THIS WEEKEND BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REGARDING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS FROM A CRIME AND REPORTING SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT THE 2 SORT OF MOST BROADLY AVAILABLE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY REDUCED EFFECTIVENESS AND IF THERE'S ONE THAT SEEMS TO WORK REALLY WELL, BUT IT'S HARD TO GET.

DO WE HAVE THAT IN THE STATE ARE WE GETTING IT SO GREAT QUESTION SO.

>> SO LAURA'S TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING TO FIGHT DELTA AND THEY WORK VERY WELL AND DELTA BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIMITED IN TERMS OF SUPPLY, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF SUPPLY WITH WHAT IS NEEDED AS WE MOVE TO OMICRON WE ARE SEEING MUCH DECREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE TREATMENTS IT'S WHY HE YOU HERE IN OUR MESSAGE THIS URGENCY ABOUT FOLKS GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST PROTECTION BECAUSE OUR TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE GOING TO BECOME LESS EFFECTIVE.

HERE WITH OMICRON NOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NEW TREATMENTS ON THE HORIZON THERE ARE A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM WE THINK GETTING FULL APPROVAL THE PILL.

BOTH THE MERCK PILL AND THE PFIZER PILL IN TERMS OF HAVING AFFECTIVE MISS AGAINST OMICRON BUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE IS THE SUPPLY IS GOING TO BE VERY LOW.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TILL THE END OF JANUARY MAYBE EVEN INTO FEBRUARY BEFORE WE SEE THAT BEING SOMETHING WE CAN GET HAVE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR MOST FOLKS SO WE'RE GOING TO BE IN JANUARY WITH A VERY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

WITHOUT A TREATMENT THAT REALLY WORKS BUT WE DO HAVE VACCINES AND BOOSTERS WE DO HAVE TESTS WE DO HAVE MASK AND WE NEED TO USE THOSE TOOLS.

THANKS THANK YOU.

>> JASON DEBRUYN WITH NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO, I'M MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON TESTING.

YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR EVEN SEND OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO DO YOU HAVE A MAY BE MORE EXACT NUMBER OF HOW MANY TESTS THERE ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE I SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I DO HAVE ONE.

YOU KNOW THE ONES YOU BUY THE PHARMACY OR LIKE $25 WHICH CAN GET COST PROHIBITIVE PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO WHEN OR IF MAYBE YOU COULD JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FREE ONES AND MAYBE TACK ON TO THAT IF SOMEBODY DOES GO TO THE WEBSITE, YOU KNOW WHAT CAN EXPECT TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS ON THERE.

YOU KNOW TO HELP THEM GET ACTUALLY LINKED UP WITH ONE OF THOSE FREE TESTS.

CODY KINSLEY TO RECOGNIZE.

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

SO I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO ON THE EXACT NUMBER OF OF WHAT WE'VE SENT OUT TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT HAS BEEN A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY PUSHING OUT AS THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON SERVING, ESPECIALLY OUR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND EASILY ACCESS THE TEST OVER THE MARKET.

IF YOU GO TO OUR WEB SITE THAT I MENTIONED MENTIONED EARLIER AND CEDED TO JUST .GOV SLASH GET TESTED THERE YOU'LL FIND FIRST TESTING LOCATOR TOOL THAT WILL GET YOU CONNECTED TO MANY OF THE PHARMACIES ACROSS THE STATE CVS AND WALGREENS MOST NOTABLY BUT MANY OTHERS THAT ARE OFFERING TESTING WE KNOW THAT THERE WHILE THEY'LL COLLECT YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION THEY WON'T BALANCE BILL YOU AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE IT'S STILL FREE.

SO GOING TO ONE OF THOSE TESTING LOCATIONS THAT ONE OF THOSE PHARMACIES IS A GOOD TOOL.

WE ALSO ON THAT WEBSITE LIST OUT A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY TESTING SITES THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN SPONSORING FOR THE LAST YOU KNOW 21 MONTHS ACTUALLY.

AND THERE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO THOSE THOSE ARE ALSO COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE STATE IS FUNDING AS WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHERE WE PUT THEM WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH SOCIAL VENERABLE INDICES AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TESTING OTHERWISE AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE.

FINALLY ON OUR SITE YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST AN AT-HOME KIT BE MAILED TO YOU.

THIS KID IN PARTICULAR IS ACTUALLY A PCR TEST THAT IS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAB CORE AND WHAT I BELIEVE WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS PIXEL AND SO THAT'S MAIL TO RISE ALMOST THE SAME DAY IF NOT THE NEXT DAY YOU CAN SEND THAT BACK AND GET THAT RESULT AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF TOOLS AVAILABLE.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO SECURE MORE TESTING RESOURCES AND WILL MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE.

WE KNOW THAT BOTH IN PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS OPEN PROTECTING OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

TESTING IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

TINA THESE MAY BE PRIMARILY FOR DOCTOR COHEN.

BUT I DID WANT TO ASK WITH THE COMMENTS YOU MADE ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF US SEEING A RECORD NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES.

>> YOU'RE ALSO EXPECTING THAT TO TRANSLATE TO A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO COVID-19 AS WELL.

>> THANKS MICHAEL.

SO, YES, WE ARE EXPECTING RECORD NUMBERS OF CASES I DO NOT YET KNOW WHAT THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS BUT WE'RE SEEING WITH OMICRON IS IT DOES SEEM TO BE LESS SEVERE.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BEHAVE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE LEVEL OF VACCINATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THE KINDS OF INFECTIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL MEAN WE ARE CERTAINLY PLANNING TO SEE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON OUR HOSPITALS, IT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR HOSPITALS TO BE READY.

AND THE MORE WE CAN ACT RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHAT WILL PROTECT FOLKS.

THAT'S WHY WE WANT FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED GET BOOSTED RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT THEM SO THAT IF THEY DO GET COVID IT CAN BE MILD AND IT DOESN'T SEND HIM TO THE HOSPITAL OR EVEN TAKE THEIR LIFE WHAT KIND OF PROJECTIONS ARE WE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU SAY RECORD CASE NUMBERS ARE WE TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE PEAK IN JANUARY SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DOUBLING THAT CAN HELP PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OR I'D SAY SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN EVEN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE DELTA SURGE.

>> SO AS MANY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT SPECIFIC HERE, BUT I THINK WE COULD SEE AS MANY AS 10,000 CASES A DAY AT THE PEAK.

>> IT IS THAT INFECTIOUS AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTING NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE PROTECTED THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO GET BOOSTERS GET TESTED GET MASKS AND USE THE LAYERS OF PROTECTION.

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING SAID ABOUT ONLY TRAVELING IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE AND GOTTEN A BOOSTER WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE TO GET THE BOOSTER SHOT SHOULD THEY BE CHANGING OR CANCELING THEIR HOLIDAY PLANS SO I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED SO YOU'VE GOTTEN 2 DOSES OF THE MODERNA OR THE PFIZER AND YOU ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER THAT WOULD YOU ARE CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATED BUT THEN YOU WANT TO TAKE THE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS GET TESTED ONE OR 2 DAYS BEFORE TRAVELING WERE BEFORE GATHERING AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE WEARING A MASK IN IN PUBLIC SETTINGS AND THE KIND OF MASK IMPORTANTLY.

WE'RE WE'RE BEING REALLY PRECISE TO SAY IF YOU CAN TO WEAR A MEDICAL GRADE MASK IT WILL PROVIDE EVEN A HIGHER LEVEL PROTECTION IN JUST A CLOTH MASK.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE DEFINITION OF BEING FULLY VACCINATED TO CHANGE, BUT WE STOP REFERRING TO THESE AS BOOSTER SHOTS AND THAT BEING THE 3RD SHOT OF A 3 DOSE OF VACCINE I DO AND ANTICIPATE OVER TIME THAT THE DEFINITION OF FULLY VACCINATED WILL CHANGE IT HAS NOT YET.

>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CDC, I KNOW IS ALREADY LOOKING AT.

>> AS WE BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS VIRUS UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR OF OUR PROTECTION FROM VACCINES THAT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE AND I EXPECTED TO OVER TIME IT'S NOT THERE YET, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THAT DEFINITION TO CHANGE WE WANT FOLKS TO GET BOOSTED RIGHT NOW.

>> AND MY LAST QUESTION THIS IS SOMEWHAT SPECIFIC IF SOMEONE'S HAD A COVID EXPOSURE BUT THEY'RE ASYMPTOMATIC THEY NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY TEST NEGATIVE FOR THE GO OUT AND GET THE BOOSTER SHOT IT SO THEY'RE NOT AT RISK OF EXPOSING OF OR COULD THEY IN THEORY GO OUT TODAY.

>> SO IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID AND YOU USE A UP I WANT TO GET MY BOOSTER TODAY YOU CAN GO AND GET YOUR BOOSTER BUT PLEASE BE WEARING A MASK THE ENTIRE TIME YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS SICK BEEN EXPOSED YOU SHOULD BE TESTING YOURSELF AND YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK, BUT DON'T LET THAT KEEP YOU FROM GETTING A BOOSTER.

>> AFTERNOON GOVERNOR JONAH KAPLAN WITH ABC 11 APPRECIATE ALL YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GO THROUGH THESE ALSO THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE WAITING ON THE PHONE.

LET'S START WITH THIS BECAUSE AND FOR INCOMING SECRETARY KESSLER.

YOU SAID THAT THAT THE TESTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

WHERE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO THESE PHARMACIES ESPECIALLY BY THESE 2530 PACKS THEY'RE NOT FINDING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FINDING THEM THEN THEY'RE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE TO THESE OTHER PLACES SO CAN YOU CONFIDENTLY SAY I THINK CAN YOU CLARIFY 86,000 TESTS A DAY IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH NOW.

CODY KINSLEY CAN SAY I'M SORRY WORTH THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

>> SO 86,000 TESTS A DAY IS WHAT ARE KIND OF HIGH WATER MARK KLEIN WAS DURING THE DELTA SURGE.

WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING.

OFTEN WITH MANY OF OUR LABS THAT PERFORM TESTING THE STATE THEY'VE ALL INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT ROOM TO GROW AS FAR AS THE TYPE OF TESTING THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE.

NOW OF COURSE THAT'S ALL PCR TESTING AND WHAT'S DONE IN LABS AND SO WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS IS THAT YOU KNOW GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND IDENTIFY OTHER PLACES THAT YOU MAY NOT IMMEDIATELY FIND THE AT-HOME TEST YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THIS CERTAIN PLACE, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PLACES THAT ARE PROVIDING TESTING AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW WE'RE GOING TO WATCH IT REALLY CAREFULLY AND WE ARE BUT WE'VE INDICATED FROM WE HAVE INDICATORS FROM OUR LABS THAT THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT OF ROOM FOR THEM TO GROW AND EVEN WITH THE HOLIDAYS AND EVEN WITH YOU KNOW VACATIONS COMING UP, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE WELL STAFFED.

>> AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ADEQUATE TESTING FOR THE TURNAROUND TIME.

RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW WE'RE STILL SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW WHERE WE WERE WITH DELTA.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT AND SO THAT'S WHY WE REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT IN THE NEAR TERM WE ARE, BUT AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO WATCH IT VERY CLOSELY AS CASES RISE.

DOESN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE TESTS POSITIVE AND ITS OMICRON OR DELTA DOES THAT MATTER.

>> FIRST WHEN SOMEONE TESTS POSITIVE THEY WON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S DELTA OMICRON THEY'LL JUST NO POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND THE THING TO KNOW IF YOU TEST POSITIVE IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SPREAD IT TO OTHERS SO THAT IS THE TIME WHERE YOU WANT TO BE BOTH STAYING AT HOME MAKING SURE YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO ISOLATE YOURSELF FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON'T SPREAD IT.

I WILL SAY IF YOU ARE TEST DOES GO TO THE STATE LAB IT DOES GET SEQUENCED AND WE DO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE DELTA.

ARE OMICRON BUT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL IT IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING WE WANT YOU TO MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE HAVING ANY DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR ANYTHING PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE HELP THAT YOU NEED.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TONE OF THIS NOT THAT ALL THE OTHER BRIEFINGS WERE NOT SERIOUS, BUT THIS ONE CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF URGENCY TO IT AND A LOT OF IT'S BACK TO THE BASICS.

IT'S THE MASSES.

THE TESTING.

LET'S GO BACK TO EVEN BEFORE THIS WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR POSITIVE.

SO IF SOMEONE IS UNVACCINATED LET'S DO THAT FIRST OF SOMEONE IS UNVACCINATED WHAT SHOULD THAT PERSON DO IF HE OR SHE TESTS POSITIVE SURE SO IF YOU TEST POSITIVE IN YOU ARE UNVACCINATED YOU WANT TO BE MONITORING YOUR SYMPTOMS AND YOU ALSO WANT TO BE STAYING ISOLATED FROM OTHERS, PARTICULARLY OTHERS WHO COULD GET VERY SICK OR WHO MIGHT BE UNVACCINATED AS WELL.

>> SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPREADING THIS TO OTHERS AND YOU WANT TO BE MONITORING YOUR OWN SYMPTOMS SO AGAIN MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING THE NORMAL THINGS YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT FEELING.

WELL, WHICH IS GET REST GET FLUIDS MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE TAKING TYLENOL OR ADVIL TO KEEP YOUR FEVER DOWN.

BUT IT ALSO IF YOU'RE STILL IF YOUR SYMPTOMS PER GRASS AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE BEING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY MAY WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE OF THE TREATMENTS THAT'S AVAILABLE AS WE KNOW AS WE WERE JUST TALKING BEFORE THE TREATMENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE IF YOU HAVE ON THE KRON THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THOSE WHO CAN GET ACCESS TO SOME OF THE TREATMENTS DO GET ACCESS TO IT AND THAT'S WHAT THAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN HELP YOU SORT OUT THEY MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE BUT.

>> COULD THEY OR SHOULD THEY STILL TRY HOW DO I KNOW IF I WANT MONOCLE ANYBODY'S OR AND THIS IS NOT TO JUDGE PEOPLE WHERE HOW THEY GET THAT INFORMATION THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THEM.

IF THEY THINK I NEED TO GET THIS VIRUS OUT OF MY BODY.

WHY NOT TAKE SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD CALLED HYDROCHLORIC WHEN OR IVERMECTIN.

>> JONAH THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE AND I WANT TO CLEAR THIS UP RIGHT AWAY WE NEED TO ONLY FOCUS ON MEDICINES THAT WORK THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED.

AND THOSE ARE ONES ONLY THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR THE PURPOSES OF TREATMENT OR AUTHORIZED BY THE FDA FOR PURPOSES OF TREATMENT AND THE 2 YOU MENTIONED ARE NOT.

SO WE'LL FOCUS ON THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND OTHERS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

>> IS THE NATIONAL GUARD GOVERNOR PREPARED TO ASSIST IN HOSPITAL CAPACITY HAVE YOU PUT THEM ON STANDBY.

>> NATIONAL GUARD IS ALWAYS READY NATIONAL GUARD IS HELPING STILL IN SOME PLACES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WILL UP THAT IF NECESSARY.

AND ARE YOU WORRIED AND I GUESS THIS GOES FOR YOU AND FOR.

SECRETARY COHEN.

IS THE THREAT MORE WHERE YOU SEE OVERCROWDING IN THE URBAN AREAS LIKE CHARLOTTE LIKE A RALEIGH LIKE A GREENVILLE IN FACT OR ARE YOU MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE CAPACITY AND ESPECIALLY THE NEED TO TRANSFER PEOPLE FROM MORE RURAL HOSPITALS.

SO IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE, YOUR MAIN CONCERN IS STAFFING AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH STAFF WHETHER IT'S AN URBAN HOSPITAL OR RURAL ONE.

>> THAT AFFECTS CAPACITY.

MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

AND WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR HOSPITALS WITH THE CEOS OF THIS HOSPITALS TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR CASES THEIR ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND ALL OF THAT SO THAT THEY CAN BE READY FOR THIS.

IF IT COMES AS EXPECTED.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE HERE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THE SURGE OF OMICRON YET IN NORTH CAROLINA WE EXPECT THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.

AND WE NEED TO GET READY FOR AND BECAUSE IT IS SO CONTAGIOUS AND BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE EXPECT MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND WE WANT TO BE READY FOR THAT WHETHER IT'S RURAL OR URBAN AREAS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD TO THAT OKAY OKAY LAST ONE PROMISE THANK YOU.

AND FOR GOVERNOR AND FOR THE SAY EITHER SECRETARY WANT TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ALSO SAY WHEN YOU ARE URGING THE BOOSTER AND WHEN YOU ARE SAYING THAT MORE PEOPLE EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE VIRUS THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE VACCINE IS NOT.

>> WORKING THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ABSOLUTELY MEANS THAT THAT WE WE THE MAIN REASON TO GET HAVE VACCINE AND THE MAIN REASON TO GET BOOSTED, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T GET SERIOUSLY ILL OR DIE.

FROM THIS VIRUS.

THERE IS LESS OF A CHANCE THAT YOU WILL GET IT WHEN YOU'RE VACCINATED AND PARTICULARLY WE HAVE SEEN THAT BY GETTING BOOSTED.

THERE'S SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CHANCE THAT YOU WILL CONTRACT COVID-19 BUT VACCINATED PEOPLE DO GET INFECTED.

BUT WHEN THEY DO IF THEY'RE VACCINATED AND PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAVE THAT BOOSTED THEY HAVE A LOT MORE PROTECTION.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE TODAY.

>> HI BRIAN MURPHY WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER SECRETARY COHEN JUST SAID THAT THERE MAY BE AS MANY AS 10,000 CASES A DAY.

PERHAPS STARTING IN IN EARLY JANUARY LATE MID-JANUARY ARE YOU AT ALL CONSIDERING ANY STATEWIDE MANDATES AT THIS POINT.

>> OR WHAT WHAT CAN YOU DO WHAT'S LEFT IN YOUR MENU OF OPTIONS IF THIS DOES EXCEED 10,000 CASES A DAY AND WE START TO SEE HOSPITALS GET FILLED UP.

>> WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO AND THAT'S GET BOOSTED GET TESTED, GET VACCINATED THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT AT THE POINT.

ANY OF THOSE STATEWIDE REQUIREMENTS.

AT THIS TIME AND THE MESSAGE IS STRONG IN CLEAR AND WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IN NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE THINK THAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO APPROACH THIS RIGHT NOW.

>> HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT TO DO ABOUT PARTICULARLY K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM ADOPTED A TEST TO STAY POLICY PARTICULAR FOR KIDS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN ORDER TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND KEEP KIDS IN THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

>> SO ALL OF OUR FIRST SAY THANKS TO THE EDUCATORS AND THANKS TO THE PARENTS AND THANKS TO THE STUDENTS FOR WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND HOW THEY'RE CONTINUING TO DO TO DRIVE ON TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO KEEP CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

IN-PERSON LEARNING.

BUT IS THIS OMICRON WAVE COMES SCHOOLS I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP THEIR GAME AND MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED AND I MADE A DOCTOR COHEN SAY A WORD OR 2 ABOUT THAT.

>> JUST AS A REMINDER.

ALREADY BEFORE YOU EVEN ADD TESTING TO THE MIX.

OUR KIDS CAN STAY IN SCHOOL IF THEY'RE DOING SOME KEY THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT SPREADING THIS VIRUS.

ONE IS GETTING VACCINATED NOW ALL OF OUR K 12 STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES REALLY IMPORTANT SAFE EFFECTIVE MY 2 DAUGHTERS WHO ARE 79 ARE VACCINATED REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED AND IF YOU HAVE AN EXPOSURE BUT YOU'RE ALREADY VACCINATED YOU STAY IN SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE 2ND IS IT LET ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION IS WEARING MASKS SO IN THOSE SCHOOLS WHERE WE ARE SEEING EVERYONE WEARING MASKS VERY FEW KIDS ARE NEEDING TO BE EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE OF AN EXPOSURE.

SO THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF WAYS FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN SCHOOL.

AND NOW WE'VE BEEN WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH ABC COLLABORATIVE THE TESTS ESTATE OPTIONS AND SO WE DO THINK THAT'S IN A GOOD LAYER OF PROTECTION.

SO YOU HAVE VACCINES YOU HAVE MASS AND THEN YOU ADD TEST TO THAT I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE KIDS STAY IN SCHOOL.

BUT IT STARTS WITH THAT MOST IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL PROTECTION WHICH IS GETTING VACCINATED.

>> IT'S WHY HAVE YOU IS THERE ANY SENSE FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO KIDS UNDER 5 A LOT OF US INCLUDING SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE KIDS UNDER 5.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT AT GIANT RISK OF OF DEVELOPING SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH FROM IT, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE PART OF THE FAMILY AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRAVELING THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT OTHER VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO.

>> WELL THE FIRST THING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR OUR LITTLEST ONES ARE GETTING VACCINATED OURSELVES RIGHT IF WE ARE ALL VACCINATED IT'S GOING TO MEAN LESS VIRUS CIRCULATING TO OUR KIDS NUMBER ONE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS EVEN JUST THIS WEEK.

WE SAW THAT THE PFIZER TEAM IS GOING TO NEED TO GO BACK IN AND RELOOK AT THE DOSING FOR OUR YOUNGEST ONES BEFORE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD TO THE FDA FOR APPROVAL.

SO A BIT OF A SETBACK AND I THINK IT JUST SHOW YOU WE'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY.

YOU KNOW THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AN INCREDIBLY GOOD AT GETTING VACCINES OUT GETTING THEM TESTED GETTING THEM INTO THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THINGS YOU KNOW THEY THEY WILL GO THROUGH THESE RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC PROCESS EASE AND IF THEY'RE NOT IF THEY'RE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS WE WANT THEM TO BE THEY NEED TO GO BACK IN AND REALLY REWORK AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR YOUNGEST ONES.

SO UP UNTIL THEN WE'LL JUST NEED TO GET EVERYONE ELSE VACCINATED AND AGAIN I THINK THE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ARE IMPORTANT.

GETTING TELL EVERYONE TESTED BEFORE THEY GATHER, WEARING MASKS THOUGH THE THINGS WE KNOW WORK ARE REALLY GOING TO PROTECT OUR LITTLE ONES AS WELL.

THANKS.

>> AND ONE LAST QUESTION FOR ME FOR GOVERNOR I SAW YOU RELEASED A TWEET ABOUT THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN WHICH WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TEMPORARILY DELAYED IN CONGRESS IS THERE A PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THAT PLAN DO YOU THINK THAT YOU THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT OR THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR NORTH CAROLINA AND FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE.

>> ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE FOR PARENTS AND EMPLOYERS IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES NOW AFFECTING PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE.

IN THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN.

MANY AMERICANS CAN'T GET QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR FOR 7%.

NO MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME.

AND WE HAVE WORKING PARENTS WHO ARE PAYING 2530% OF THEIR INCOME ON CHILDCARE AND MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM.

A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN HERE BUT THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE IN WASHINGTON AND NEGOTIATE SOMETHING TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES AND PARTICULARLY THE THE CHILDCARE.

>> GOVERNOR BRIAN ANDERSON WITH THE AP IT MIGHT BE THE LAST NEWS CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DEPRIVE YOU THE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER A MULTIPLE QUESTIONS FOR ME SO FORGIVE ME IN ADVANCE.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THE OVERALL TONE OF HOW HOW THIS NEWS CONFERENCE IS DIFFERENT FROM JUST 1, 6, DAYS AGO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE URGENCY AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST 6 DAYS.

>> WELL, THE REAL URGENCY NOW IS BOOSTERS MAKING WE'VE GOT A LOT OF VACCINATED PEOPLE I I DON'T WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE SURE ABOUT THIS NUMBER ABOUT 38% OF OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED HAVE HAD THEIR BOOSTER.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE BOUCHER'S BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT.

YOU CAN GET REAL PROTECTION FROM 2, SO THAT'S A MAIN MESSAGE HERE AND I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST.

NEWS CONFERENCE WE'VE HAD WITH BOOSTERS THE MAIN MESSAGE.

AND THE SECOND MESSAGE IS TESTING.

THOSE THOSE 2 THINGS RIGHT NOW CAN HELP US GET THROUGH THIS AND WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS SEEING THAT THE REAL.

YOU PROBABILITY THAT OMICRON WILL COME HERE AND WILL BECOME THE DOMINANT VARIANT YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THAT TALK >> BRIAN THE ONLY THING I'D ADD IS RIGHT IS THAT THAT WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT OMICRON AND THAT'S WE SAID WE NEEDED TO LEARN WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND IT AND WHAT WE SEE IS THAT IS INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS.

LUCKILY, WE SEE IT'S ALSO LIKELY LESS SEVERE BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE UNVACCINATED ARE ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTED HERE UNLESS THEY GET VACCINATED AGAIN LESS EVERYONE GETS BOOSTED THINK THAT'S WHAT THE WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST NUMBER OF DAYS WE ARE REALLY SEEING THIS INCREDIBLY FAST TAKEOFF AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND IN THE NORTHEAST AND WE WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT DOMINANT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA YET WE HAVE TIME TO ACT AND WE WANT FOLKS TO ACT RIGHT NOW.

>> AND FOR THE GOVERNOR DOCTOR COHEN SAID EARLIER THAT THIS IS QUOTE A MOMENT TO ACT AND CODY IS ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FREE TESTING I WENT THROUGH THE WEBSITE TO HELP PEOPLE COULD DO THAT.

NOT.

NOT DISMISSING THE POWER OF A SECRETARIAL DIRECTIVE OR THE EXPANDED AT HOME BY ANY MEANS BUT THERE'S A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE YOU COULD REIMPOSE THEIRS TIGHTER ENFORCEMENT YOU COULD DO OF SOME OF THESE VACCINE.

ENCOURAGING EFFORTS FOR STATE CABINET AGENCIES.

WHY ARE YOU NOT USING THESE TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL NOW IS THE MOMENT TO ACT.

>> BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

>> I HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND WITH WRAL THAT YOU SAID YOU SUPPORT SHERRY BEES THAT WANT TO CLARIFY DO YOU PERSONALLY TODAY ENDORSED US SENATE CANDIDATE CHERI BEASLEY.

>> I WILL BE DOING THAT.

YES BUT I'D RATHER STICK TO THE HEALTH QUESTIONS AT THIS NEWS CONFERENCE I AND QVC FIRE UPDATE DO WE KNOW THE CAUSE OF IT YET WHAT'S THE LATEST.

I KNOW THAT STATE OFFICIALS ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS ON THIS QVC DISTRIBUTION FIRE.

AND AND THERE THERE IS NO REPORT YET AS OF THIS MOMENT THAT THAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT HAS ESTABLISHED A CAUSE AT THIS TIME.

OUR WORK RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE HELP WITH EMPLOYMENT TRYING TO GET PEOPLE HELP THESE MORE THAN 2000 FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING TO BE WITHOUT A JOB AND OF COURSE WE MOURN THE DEATH THAT OCCURRED THERE.

>> YOU ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER WITH EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT VACCINATION RATES FOR THOSE OFFICIALS.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO DATE HOW MANY CABINET STATE LEVEL WORKERS HAVE BEEN FIRED AND DISMISSED UNDER YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER MANDATING THE VACCINE OR THE WEEKLY TESTING AND THEIR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THAT.

>> WELL FIRST YOU KNOW I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE RELEASING THE NUMBERS BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 7677% RIGHT NOW OF ALL CABINET LEVEL.

EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BUT THE VAST VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THAT MEANS EITHER BEING VACCINATED OR TESTED WE CAN GET YOU SOME MORE SPECIFIC FIGURES THAT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING OUT WITH TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK ON AND NOT THOSE MORE SPECIFIC FIGURES WILL THOSE BE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DISMISSED.

I DON'T KNOW WE CAN GET WE CAN GET THERE THERE HAVE BEEN THAT HAS OCCURRED IN SOME SOME AGENCIES AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAVE LEFT BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

HAVE CHOSEN TO GET VACCINATED AND THEN THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO GET TESTED.

BUT MOST PEOPLE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

COUPLE FINDS FOR DOCTOR COHEN.

JUST THAT.

>> JUST WITH REGARD TO INCENTIVES, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAD A $25 PER FOR FAMILIES TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED ARE YOU CONSIDERING DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN A STATEWIDE LEVEL TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION FOR THE BOOSTERS.

>> GREAT QUESTION I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ENCOURAGE FOLKS FIRST TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE OF URGENCY TODAY.

BUT CERTAINLY WILL LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS I CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THAT FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, OUR OWN HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

BUT AGAIN WE HAVE TO JUST MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE IF YOU'RE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS AND AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THAT HOUSEHOLD YOU'LL BE MET MASKLESS INDOORS AND THAT TYPE OF SETTING.

>> SHOULD YOU GO TO THAT VENUE IF YOU'RE WITH SOMEONE WHO'S UNVACCINATED.

>> SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GATHER WITH FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINATED AND FULLY BOOSTED THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST PROTECTION AND THEN LATER ON A TEST ONE TO 2 DAYS BEFORE AND THEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO GATHER INDOORS, KEEP IT SMALL AND IF YOU CAN SPACE OUT OPEN THE DOORS AND WINDOWS FOR BETTER CIRCULATION TO MATTER OF LAYERS OF PROTECTION AND I I RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE HARD ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT AMONGST FAMILY MEMBERS.

BUT YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AHEAD OF TIME RIGHT IF SOMEONE IS IT NOT VACCINATED LET'S MAKE SURE THEY GET TESTED MAKING WEAR MASK.

THE OUTSIDE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ADD LAYERS OF PROTECTION AND ALSO STILL BE TOGETHER SAFELY LAST ONE 19,167 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT THE LATEST COUNT FROM COVID-19 IN YOUR OPINION HOW MANY OF THESE WERE AVOIDABLE AND UNNECESSARY DEATHS, A MAJORITY.

>> O'BRIEN THAT'S A REALLY HARD QUESTION RIGHT BECAUSE THIS THIS PANDEMIC HAS GONE ON QUITE A NUMBER OF MONTHS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE TOOLS WE NEEDED TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS PANDEMIC TO REALLY PROTECT FOLKS AND ONLY IN THE LAST YOU KNOW 6, 8, MONTHS TO BE REALLY HAVE VACCINE THAT WAS WIDELY AVAILABLE WE'RE ONLY NOW HAVING TREATMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL.

>> EVERY LIFE LOST IN THIS PANDEMIC IS A TRAGEDY PREVENTABLE I THINK THERE ARE NUMBER CERTAINLY IN MORE RECENT TIME WE HAVE VACCINE AND TREATMENT AVAILABLE THAT I WISH WE COULD HAVE.

DONE MORE AND DONE THING SOONER.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TODAY WE'RE SAYING WE NEED TO HAVE YOU GET BOOSTED TO GET THE BEST PROTECTION POSSIBLE PLEASE LISTEN TO ALL OF THE THINGS IN THE SECRETARIAL ADVISORY ABOUT HOW TO BE SAFE OVER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

WE CAN WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER WE WILL.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US AGAIN WORKING TOGETHER USING THE TOOLS PROTECTING EACH OTHER BUT NO ACTIVE COUNT OF HOW MANY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND I CAN'T I CAN'T SAY THAT I THINK THAT THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL GO TO THE PHONE IF THEY'RE PEOPLE WE HAVE ON THE PHONE.

TAKE THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> QUESTION I'M A PROFESSIONAL LIVES IN RICHARD CRAVER WITH THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL.

>> I AS GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY A COLON CANCER, I'M JUST FOLLOWING UP ON.

UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRE NOT TO DO ANYTHING STATEWIDE REQUIREMENTS AT THIS POINT HOPE AND THE VACCINATION THESE TEAMS WILL HELP TAKE CARE.

SOME OF THE ISSUES BUT.

IF YOU GO FORWARD GIVEN WHAT THE STATE BUDGET HAD IN TERMS OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE ARTICLES FOR 2023.

DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL STATE MEMBERS AND THE LEGISLATURE'S ABOUT WHEN A STATEWIDE MANDATE MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY AGAIN.

>> FIRST THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS NOW OR NEXT YEAR.

THERE ARE CHANGES THAT THAT WILL OCCUR IN 2023.

GENERALLY TALK WITH STATEWIDE LEADERS.

IN THE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND ON THE COUNCIL OF STATE ABOUT DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE THERE THERE ARE NO STATEWIDE MANDATES AT THIS POINT REGARDING.

COVID-19.

AND CERTAINLY WANT TO SKATE DISCUSSED WITH OTHER STATE LEADERS.

DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC AS WE GO FORWARD.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> RUSSIAN.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KATE MARTIN CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS.

GOOD AFTERNOON GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY COHEN AND AND MISTER KENNEDY.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT VACCINE FOR THOSE UNDER 5 A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND SINCE I'M NOT THERE TO ASK THEM RIGHT IN A ROW.

ONE DO WE KNOW THE TIMING OF THE APPROVED VACCINES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER 5 ARE WE TALKING WEEKS OR MONTHS AND THEN.

YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TRAVELING WITH YOUNG ONES UNDER 5 AND I KNOW THIS IS YOU KNOW THEY'VE BEEN ASKED IN SOME RESPECT ALREADY, BUT.

I MEAN SHOULD PARENTS OF KIDS UNDER 5 TRAVELING TO POTENTIALLY LIKE NEXT VACCINATION STATUS PARTY.

CONSIDERATIONS TO MAYBE STAY HOME OR LIKE LIKE WHAT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THEY OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR LOVED ONES SAFE.

>> THANKS KATE FOR THAT QUESTION I WOULD SAY IT'S AND I THINK THE IT IS GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF MONTHS UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE THAT IS AUTHORIZED.

FOR OUR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 THERE WAS A SETBACK JUST THIS WEEK IN SOME OF THE TRIALS AND SO I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A BIT LONGER THAN WE WERE HOPING FOR SO I DO THINK IT'S IN THE ORDER OF MONTHS NOW NOT WEEKS.

AND AS YOU AS A FAMILY ARE THINKING ABOUT HOLIDAY GATHERINGS.

YOU KNOW I YOU WANT TO BE HAVING THOSE HOLIDAY GATHERINGS IN THE SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE.

I WOULD SAY EVERYONE GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED GETTING TESTED 2 DAYS BEFORE WEARING MASK AND KEEPING GATHERING SMALL ARE THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE UNDER 5 CANNOT GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THEM IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELSE IS VACCINATED MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS GETTING TESTED OUR LITTLE ONES CAN GET TESTED AS WELL.

AND THEN EACH FAMILY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT BEST DECISION FOR THEM ABOUT WHAT THAT THAT MEANS FOR RISK BOTH FOR OUR LITTLE ONES AS WELL AS THE GRANDPARENTS IN THE FAMILY OR OTHERS IN THE FAMILY WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

WE CERTAINLY ALL WANT TO BE TOGETHER AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

BUT I DO THINK EACH FAMILY SHOULD FIGURE OUT THAT RISKS FOR THEM TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO LAYER ON PROTECTIONS.

I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO TO HAVE SAFE GATHERINGS.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE VACCINE BOOST TEST MASK PROTOCOLS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION PLACE.

>> OUR FINAL QUESTION THAT WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S BRIEFING IT FROM THERE TO LINGER WITH FOX 40 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTION IS IS THERE A COLLISION WITH A 26 I'M INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR REACTION TO BOOST REQUIREMENTS.

DUKE UNIVERSITY.

NOW THERE'S GREAT AND IT'S A PRIVATE INSTITUTION ALSO ANOTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTION, YOUR CHARLOTTE PACE UNIVERSITY.

THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO HAVE THAT THIS REQUIREMENT AS WELL AND GETTING REACTION TO THAT AND ALSO THERE IS THE CAPTAIN OBVIOUS QUESTION HERE AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SPECIFICALLY THOSE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SHOULD HAVE A MANDATE PLAY SO BE IT SHOULDN'T GET YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.

>> WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE EVIDENCE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOOSTERS PARTICULARLY WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT COMING TOWARD US.

I'M GOING TO LET DOCTOR COHEN.

PREDICT WHEN SHE THINKS THAT MAY BE A REQUIREMENT.

>> THANK YOU GOVERNOR, SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS YOU HERE IN THE URGENCY OF OUR BOYS ABOUT ABOUT EVERYONE GETTING BOOSTERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE OVER 65 GET BOOSTED IF YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION GET BOOSTED.

IF YOU ARE WORK OR LIVE IN A LONG-TERM CARE SETTING GET BOOSTED AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS GET BOOSTED, BUT REALLY EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE SHOULD BE GOING TO GET BOOSTERS AS FAR AS THINKING ABOUT MANDATES AND AND CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF FULLY VACCINATED I ANTICIPATE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL COME IN THE EARLY PART OF OF NEXT YEAR.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL SEE THAT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.

BUT LET'S NOT WAIT FOR THAT RIGHT, WE WANT YOU TO HEAR OUR MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR MANDATES PLEASE GET BOOSTED NOW WE WANT EVERYONE TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AS WE SEE THIS WAVE OF A MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANT COMING OUR WAY THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO WISH ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS ACROSS THE STATE A PEACEFUL AND SAFE HOLIDAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HOPE YOU CAN FIND JOY IN THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAYS AND SPEND TIME WITH THE ONES THAT YOU LOVE I KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE A FRUSTRATING SITUATION, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.