- COMING UP ON COVID UNCOVERED: - I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHERE IT CAME FROM.

BUT I KNOW WHEN IT HIT ME, IT PUT ME DOWN.

- AFTER 69 DAYS ON LIFE SUPPORT, MARTIN TAYLOR IS RECOVERING AFTER WINNING HIS FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

WE HEAR FROM THE WAKE COUNTY MAN, AND LEARN WHY DOCTORS ARE CALLING HIM A WALKING MIRACLE.

- WE KNOW MORE SUPPLY IS COMING, SO WE ARE BUILDING A CAPACITY.

- AND NORTH CAROLINIANS IN GROUP FOUR ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE.

WHY STATE LEADERS SAY THIS GROUP WILL BE THE MOST CHALLENGING THUS FAR TO VACCINATE.

♪ WELCOME TO COVID UNCOVERED.

I'M DAVID HURST.

COVID-19 HOSPILIZATIONS DIP TO AN ENCOURAGING MILESTONE AS GROUP 4 IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE COVID-19 DASHBOARD.

THESE ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS AS OF WEDNESDAY.

KELLY MCCULLEN HAS MORE ON THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

- THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC MIGHT MARK ITS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH, BUT HEALTH EXPERTS ARE CHARTING A MORE POSITIVE LINE OF STATISTIC.

IT BEGINS WITH THE RED CROSS THAT REPORTS ONE IN 5 OF ITS BLOOD DONATIONS FROM UNVACCINATED DONORS CARRY COVID-19 ANTIBODIES.

IF YOU COUNT THE 11% OF ANTIBODIES FOUND IN VACCINATED DONORS, A FULL ONE 3RD OF OUR COUNTRY MIGHT POSSESS SOME RESISTANCE TO INFECTION.

BUT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OUTLINING A MORE NORMAL SUMMER SEASON, THE QUESTION SEEMS TO BE NOT IF PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL, BUT HOW MUCH.

- I'M AMONG THE MANY AMERICANS WHO FEELS THAT THAT IMPATIENCE, THAT URGE TO GET OUT, TO TRAVEL, TO SEE PEOPLE THAT WE CARE ABOUT, TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL FOR WORK MORE AND MORE AND YET WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT ONLY WHEN IT'S RESPONSIBLE.

- VACCINE MAKER MODERNA IS LAUNCHING VACCINE TRIALS IN CHILDREN.

NEARLY 7,000 KIDS FROM 6 MONTHS TO 11 YEARS OLD ARE PARTICIPATING.

- HOW WAS THAT?

- THEY'LL RECEIVE 2 DOSES, 28 DAYS APART.

OVER IN EUROPE, COUNTRIES ARE GRAPPLING WITH ALLEGATIONS THE OXFORD ASTRAZENECA VACCINE IS CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS.

- I HOPE THAT ON THURSDAY THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY CAN PUT THIS TO REST.

YES, THERE ARE SOME CASES, BUT IT'S NO MORE THAN THE BACKGROUND, IT'S NO MORE WITH THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE WITH THE OTHER VACCINES.

- NORTH CAROLINA IS CURRENTLY EXPANDING THE RESIDENTS WHO CAN RECEIVE VACCINE.

NEARLY 20% OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY VACCINATED, WITH 3.1 MILLION TOTAL SHOTS ADMINISTERED OF THE MODERNA, PFIZER, OR JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES.

- FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M KELLY MCCULLEN.

- A WAKE COUNTY MAN IS RECOVERING AFTER HE SPENT 69 DAYS ON LIFE SUPPORT DUE TO COVID-19.

HIS FAMILY WAS UNSURE IF HE EVER WAKE UP, BUT HE DID AND RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH US TO SHARE HIS STORY.

- YOU PLAYED A PART IN IT.

- MARTIN TAYLOR CONSIDERED HIMSELF HEALTHY AND IN SHAPE WHEN HE RANDOMLY PASSED OUT LAST JULY.

- AND WHEN I CAME TO, I - MY WIFE -- WHY - WHAT HAPPENED?

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "YOU PASSED OUT, SO THE AMBULANCE IS COMING.

JUST STAY WHERE YOU'RE AT.

DON'T MOVE."

- EMS TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HIS CONDITION GOT WORSE.

HE STRUGGLED TO BREATHE AS LUNGS KEPT FAILING.

- YOU KNOW THIS DISEASE, IT JUST REALLY HIT MY LUNGS AND REALLY IT REALLY JUST SHOOK MY WHOLE SYSTEM DOWN BASICALLY.

- DOCTORS DECIDED TO PUT HIM ON AN ADVANCED FORM OF LIFE SUPPORT CALLED ECMO.

IT PUMPS BLOOD FROM A PATIENT'S BODY INTO AN ARTIFICIAL LUNG.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT THEY HAD FAITH THAT HE WOULD COME OUT.

THAT FAITH WAS TESTED FOR 69 DAYS.

- YOU KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO ME, WAS OVERNIGHT, AND BOOM I WAS UP, IT WAS 3 MONTHS LATER.

- OVER TIME, HE STARTED TO GET BETTER, AND IN DECEMBER WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME.

- YOU KNOW ANYTIME I BELIEVE IN GOD GIVES YOU A SECOND CHANCE.

YOU KNOW YOU JUST AS QUICK AND YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW YOUR WAY OF THINKING, AND ACTING, PERSONAL PREFERENCE, I MEAN EVERYTHING HAD TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

I HOPE SO.

- TAYLOR STILL RELIES ON AN OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR UNTIL HIS LUNGS CAN RETURN TO FULL HEALTH AND HE'S WAITING FOR HIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

- YES, SOON AS I GET CALLED I'M GETTING MY VACCINE.

YOU KNOW IT'S NOT AN IF, AND, OR WHEN, OR BUT, OR WHY.

I'M GONNA GET MINE.

- TAYLOR SAYS WHEN HE DOES GET THAT CALL IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY AS IT MARKS ANOTHER STEP ON THE JOURNEY TO BEATING THIS VIRUS.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M DAVID HIRST.

AND WITH ME NOW IS DOCTOR CHRIS DERIENZO, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF WAKE MED.

CHRIS THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY.

- I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE DAVID.

- SO HOW COMMON ARE YOU SEEING CASES LIKE THIS?

SERIOUS CASES LIKE MARTIN TAYLOR?

- WELL CERTAINLY I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES DROPPING.

WE HIT OUR PEAK HERE AT WAKE MED BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY, ABOUT A 184 PATIENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

WE'RE NOW DOWN TO 39, SO THAT'S ALMOST AN 80% DROP.

THAT SAID, WE'RE STILL SEEING ABOUT ONE IN 4 OF OUR PATIENTS NEEDING ICU CARE, SO THERE STILL ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS LIKE MISTER TAYLOR TRYING TO BATTLE THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.

- AND FROM A STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE WE SAW THIS WEEK COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS DIPPED BELOW 1000 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

- WE CERTAINLY FELT HERE AT WAKE MED IN THE TRIANGLE AND ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK DOCTOR COHEN SPOKE LAST WEEK ON THE PROGRAM ABOUT THE THE LEVELING THAT WE'VE SEEN NATIONWIDE.

SO FAR IN NORTH CAROLINA WE HAD A PRETTY DRAMATIC DROP FROM END OF JANUARY TO MID-FEBRUARY.

IT HASN'T TOTALLY FLATTENED OUT FOR US YET.

WE STILL SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS DECREASING WEEK-OVER-WEEK BUT WE CERTAINLY REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF THIS VIRUS.

WE'VE SEEN WHAT IT CAN DO AFTER THE REALLY DARK DAYS OF JANUARY.

- AND WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE TO THE DECREASE THAT YOU'RE SEEING?

IS THE VACCINE MAKING THAT MUCH OF AN IMPACT?

- NOTHING IN LIFE IS CERTAIN, BUT I'M HARD PRESSED TO SAY THAT THE VACCINE IS HAVING A DRAMATIC IMPACT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT WHO IS NO LONGER IN OUR HOSPITALS BACK ON THAT PEAK DAY ON JANUARY 24TH.

WE HAD 66 PEOPLE IN HEALTH TO OVER THE AGE OF 75.

WHEN I GOT MY MORNING SNAP SHOT THIS MORNING THAT NUMBER WAS DOWN A 95% REDUCTION AND THE INPATIENT CENSUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 75, WE KNOW THOSE FOLKS IN GROUP 2 THEY WERE EARLY IN THE VACCINATION AND SO I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE HAVING A REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WITH THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

- AND YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER STILL A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WE'RE SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON IN EUROPE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT ANOTHER SPIKE?

- BUT I THINK JUST LIKE DOCTOR FAUCI NOTED, I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT MORE SPIKES IN CASES WHERE BEGINNING TO GET IT INCREASINGLY BOTH GRATEFUL FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND BELIEVE THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGHEST RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT IN THE STATE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR CITIZENS OUR PROVIDERS OUR STATE GOVERNMENT EVERYBODY CAN BE PROUD OF.

WE'VE LED THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF METRICS ESPECIALLY GETTING TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THAT 65 AND OLDER CATEGORY.

AND THE MORE WE BUILD A MOAT AROUND THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE, THE BETTER WE'LL BE ABLE TO WEATHER WHATEVER DIPS AND VALLEYS ARE TO COME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

- AND WE REPORTED A FEW MONTHS BACK ABOUT THE STRESS AND BURDEN THAT MANY FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE FACING WHILE FIGHTING THIS VIRUS.

ARE NURSES AND DOCTORS STILL FEELING THAT?

- NO QUESTION.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF AREAS WITHIN THE HOSPITALS WHERE WE CARE FOR COVID PATIENTS, THERE IS STILL I YOU KNOW COVID COHORT UNITS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A YEAR WITHOUT STOP.

AND THE LEVEL OF INTENSITY THAT THEY NEED TO BRING TO BEAR EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF CARE, WE NOW KNOW THROUGH SCIENCE AND EXPERIENCE WILL GIVE OUR PATIENTS THE BEST CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL, REQUIRES INTENSE EFFORT.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO SUPPORT THOSE FOLKS, BUT I KNOW DAVID, THAT THEY REALLY APPRECIATE IS THE CARING FROM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT EXPRESSION HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO THEM AND TO US AS WAKE MED THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR.

- AND REAL BRIEFLY CHRIS WHAT'S NECESSARY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO CONTINUE HAVE THESE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS GO DOWN?

- I THINK AS OTHERS SPOKE TO BETTER THAN EVEN ME, WE CAN'T SPIKE THE FOOTBALL YET, BUT WE'RE THIS CLOSE TO THE END ZONE, WE'RE ROLLING INTO GROUP FOUR THIS WEEK, THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS AND THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND THOSE WHO HAVE A HIGH RISK CONDITION, SOMETHING LIKE 4 MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN THAT GROUP.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINE SUPPLY IS RISING FAST.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THE PUSH OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 16 WEEKS IF WE WANT TO RETURN TO SOMETHING RESEMBLING THE NORMAL SUMMER TIME.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN GET THERE, WE JUST GOT TO KEEP UP THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH EVIDENCE WORK TO KEEP THE SPREAD AT BAY.

- CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS FRONT.

- IT'S REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE PROGRAM.

- THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO NORTH CAROLINIANS IN GROUP 4.

GROUP 4 INCLUDES THOSE WITH PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, PEOPLE IN PRISON, AND THE HOMELESS.

JOSHUA SENEGAL HAS THE LATEST ON THE UPDATED TIMELINE FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

- MILLIONS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS IN GROUP FOUR ARE GAINING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

A WEEK EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.

- WE KNOW MORE SUPPLY IS COMING SO WE ARE BUILDING CAPACITY, WAITING IN THE WINGS, SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GET OUT VACCINE VERY QUICKLY.

- THE FIRST PART OF GROUP FOUR INCLUDES THOSE WITH PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT PUT THEM AT RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID-19.

THE SECOND PART OF GROUP 4 INCLUDES ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE RETAIL AND UTILITIES EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET.

THEY'LL BE ELIGIBLE STARTING APRIL 7TH.

GROUP 4 IS THE LARGEST GROUP TO BE VACCINATED SO FAR IN NORTH CAROLINA.

- WE KNOW THIS IS A LARGE GROUP AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS GROUP.

- STATE LEADERS SAY THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEED UP THE TIMELINE BECAUSE OF AN INCREASED THE VACCINE SUPPLY.

IN A NEW FEDERAL VACCINATION SITE IN GREENSBORO.

THE FORMER SHOPPING MALL HAS BEEN SET UP TO VACCINATE ABOUT 3,000 PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

- IT WILL BE 8 WEEKS, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY, 3,000 PLUS VACCINATIONS A DAY.

BUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE VACCINATIONS REPRESENTS A PERSON AND A FAMILY.

AND YET ANOTHER STEP IN TURNING THE CORNER ON THIS PANDEMIC.

- THE LARGER GREENSBORO SITE RUN BY FEMA HOPES TO REACH MORE MINORITY COMMUNITIES WHERE UNEQUAL VACCINE DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN REPORTED.

- WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS HAS IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY, WE WANT TO DISPROPORTIONATELY SERVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

BOTH HERE AT THE HUB AND AT THE SPOKES.

- DESPITE THE ACCELERATED TIMELINE, THERE ARE STILL SOME VACCINE SUPPLY HURDLES.

STATE LEADERS SAY IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SHIPMENTS OF THE SINGLE DOSE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

- WE ANTICIPATE HAVING MORE OF THE ONE SHOT VERSION OF THE VACCINE IN THE APRIL TIME FRAME.

SO IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO BECOMES ELIGIBLE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE FIRST VACCINE THAT IS THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU SO THAT WE CAN GET FOLKS VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

- DOCTOR COHEN SAYS GROUP 5, WHICH INCLUDES ALL ADULTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED, WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE SOMETIME BEFORE MAY 1ST.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M JOSHUA SENEGAL.

- AND HERE WITH ME NOW IS JULIE SWANN HEAD OF THE NC STATE INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

JULIE THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

- THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

- SO THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STATE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MOVE UP THE VACCINE TIMELINE.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH VACCINE SUPPLY?

- WELL SUPPLY HAS BEEN INCREASING AND THAT'S GREAT.

WE DO ALSO HAVE A 3RD VACCINE THAT'S NOW BEEN APPROVED SO THAT ALSO INCREASED THE SUPPLY.

BUT WE KNOW THAT ALL ALL OF THE MANUFACTURERS ARE WORKING THROUGHOUT THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET AS MUCH AS THEY CAN OUT THE DOOR.

- AND WHERE DO WE STAND WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPLY CHALLENGES?

ARE THERE OTHER STILL OBSTACLES OUT THERE?

- THERE ARE STILL SOME OBSTACLES, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON HAS SAID THAT THEIR PRODUCTION IS NOT GOING TO BE AS FAST AS THEY HOPED IT WAS THERE IS GOING TO BE A PARTNERSHIP ROLLING OUT WITH MERCK, BUT I THINK THAT THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO SET UP AND BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT SUPPLY IS INCREASING AND WE NOW HAVE A FORECAST OF WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

- SO THOSE WITH PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE PART OF GROUP 4, BUT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PART OF A MUCH EARLIER GROUP.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE?

- WELL, WE SAW THAT SHIFT COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE WAS ADVICE IN JANUARY TO START MOVING DOWN THE PRIORITY LIST AND GO MORE QUICKLY AND REALLY BEGIN WITH DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS THAT HAD NOT BEEN IN THAT PRIORITY GROUP INITIALLY, SO WE SAW SOME OF THOSE SHIFTS OCCUR THERE'S ALSO CLEARLY A PRIORITY ON GETTING ESSENTIAL WORKERS VACCINATED SINCE THEY ARE AT GREATER RISK OF EXPOSURE.

AND NOW WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING THAT CHALLENGING GROUP OF REACHING ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIGH-RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PUT THEM AT HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE OUTCOMES.

- AND SO AS OF MARCH 17TH ABOUT 20% OF THE STATE HAS AT LEAST PARTIALLY VACCINATED.

HOW MUCH FURTHER DO WE HAVE TO GO UNTIL WE MAY REACH HERD IMMUNITY?

- EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THAT RIGHT?

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE INFECTIVITY OF THIS VIRUS AND ALSO BECAUSE ONCE WE GET BACK TO NORMAL, WE'LL BE MORE TRAVELING AND MOVING AROUND WE NEED TO TO GET TO A HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION IN THE COMMUNITY.

70 TO 90% IS IS WHAT WE THINK IS TRUE FOR THAT, SO YOU KNOW THERE IS A PUSH TO FIRST OF ALL GET ALL ADULTS VACCINATED, AND SECONDLY THERE ARE NOW SOME TRIALS SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED THEIR AGES DOWN TO LOOK AT THESE VACCINES IN CHILDREN AS WELL.

- AND YOU HAD MENTIONED HAVING 3 SHOTS WILL HELP US GET THERE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

WE KNOW NORTH CAROLINA RECEIVED MORE THAN 80,000 FOR THAT FIRST ROUND OF SHIPMENTS BUT THE NEXT ROUND WON'T COME UNTIL ABOUT APRIL.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

- WELL, I THINK THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON HAVE BEEN PREPARING THEIR PRODUCTION IN ANTICIPATION OF COMING BEFORE THE FDA FOR APPROVAL.

SO THEY HAD STOCKPILED SOME VACCINES.

BUT THEN THEY DID HAVE SOME GLITCHES IN THEIR SYSTEM.

THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE RAMPING UP FROM BASICALLY 0, TO FULL LEVELS, AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

IT HAS SLOWED DOWN.

THEY WILL GET SOME OF THOSE THINGS WORKED OUT JUST AS WE SAW WITH PFIZER AND MODERNA BACK IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

- AND THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS THAT IN APRIL THE U.S. COULD POSSIBLY GREEN LIGHT THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD A 4TH VACCINE HAVE ON SUPPLY.

- THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE SUPPLY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO PURCHASING 300 MILLION DOSES OF AN ASTRAZENECA WHICH CLEARLY NOT ONLY WOULD THAT HELP COVER ALL AMERICANS BUT WOULD ALSO HELP COVER THEM SOONER BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN PREPARING THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS.

SO THAT WOULD INCREASE THE SUPPLY AS WE'RE GOING TO THIS LARGE GROUP FOUR AS DOCTOR COHEN SAID, AND THEN GROUP FIVE WHICH IS ALSO QUITE LARGE.

- AND YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER CLINICAL TRIALS FOR CHILDREN.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD BE ABLE TO VACCINATE CHILDREN HAVE ON WHAT'S GOING ON?

- CHILDREN HAVE FEWER SEVERE OUTCOMES SUCH AS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS THAN ADULTS DO, BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE HAD SEVERE OUTCOMES AND CHILDREN CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO OTHERS SUCH AS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD OR OTHERS THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH.

SO VACCINATING CHILDREN WILL HELP GIVE THE ENTIRE SOCIETY, MORE PROTECTION, BOTH THE CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINES.

- JULIE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS TOPIC.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

A 1.9 TRILLION DOLLARS COVID-19 RELIEF BILL HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

THAT MEANS HELP IS ON THE WAY TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

BUT FOR SOME MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.

THEY SAY THAT HELP CAME A LITTLE TOO LATE EVEN HELP HAS THE STORY.

- I LEARNED ABOUT BUSINESS EARLY FROM MY DAD.

- AKILI HESTER HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 4 YEARS.

HE'S SEEN HIS SHARE OF CHALLENGES BUT THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED HIS BARBERSHOP LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

- I SPENT PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE CHECK ON PAYING UP MY RENT.

IF I DON'T GET FORGIVEN IT SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT.

- HESTER IS ONE OF MANY MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THE STATE HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

HIS BARBERSHOP RECEIVED ONLY $2500 FROM THE FEDERAL PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM ONLY AFTER FILLING OUT WHAT HE SAYS WAS COMPLICATED PAPERWORK.

- I STILL NEEDED THE MONEY, SO YOU STILL FILL IT OUT, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT THE RIGHT WAY.

AND I WAS JUST HOPING, BECAUSE THE APPLICATION WASN'T EXACTLY FOR MY INDUSTRY AND I DID GET IT.

YOU JUST DON'T GET A LOT.

- A REPORT FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK SHOWS THAT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES EXPERIENCED DECLINES OF 41% AND LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES FELL BY 32%.

THAT'S COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF WHITE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SAW A DROP OF JUST 17%.

THE REPORT ALSO REVEALED THAT MUCH OF THE AID DIDN'T REACH MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, AND THESE BUSINESSES COULDN'T GET A LOAN, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH A BANK.

FOR ESTEBAN BRUNELLO HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET ENOUGH RELIEF TO KEEP HIS BUSINESS GOING.

HE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CLOSE HIS WINE BAR IN DECEMBER.

- WHEN IT STARTED KIND OF LIKE HITTING FINANCIALLY HARD, EVEN THOUGH WITH VERY LITTLE HELP, YOU KNOW IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH BEING HONEST WITH YOU.

- ORIGINALLY FROM ARGENTINA, BRUNELLO SAYS THE DOWNTOWN DURHAM BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

HE SAYS HE DOESN'T BLAME ANYONE IN PLASTIC AS WIND BUSINESS ONLINE.

- I'M JUST A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'M NOT IN POLITICS OR YOU KNOW, WHO IS DEFINITELY GOING TO EVEN LISTEN TO ME IF I GOT EVEN IF IT -- WHAT COULD BE A GOOD IDEA, YOU KNOW?

[CLIPPERS BUZZING] - FOR AKILI HESTER HE OPENED A CLOTHING DESIGN BUSINESS TO COVER LOST REVENUE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HE SAYS SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO ADAPT AND CHANGE.

- I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX BECAUSE WE ALL WENT THROUGH SOMETHING WE NEVER WENT THROUGH BEFORE.

- FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M EVAN HOWELL.

- AND I'M JOINED NOW BY ASHLEY HARRINGTON, FEDERAL ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING.

ASHLEY, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TODAY.

- THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

- SO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY DID SO MANY MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS STRUGGLE TO ACCESS LOANS DURING THAT FIRST ROUND OF PPP FUNDING?

- ABSOLUTELY.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM ITSELF A PROGRAM WHERE THE FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE INHERENT FLAWS.

WHEN WE KNOW THAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE NEVER WELL SERVED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND SO THAT WAS THE FIRST INHERENT FLAW.

THE FEE STRUCTURE DIDN'T INCENTIVIZE THE SMALL LOANS THAT THESE BUSINESSES WOULD NEED.

ALSO, THE FIRST WEEK OF THE PROGRAM, SOLE PROPRIETORS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, COULDN'T EVEN APPLY.

THAT'S 95% OF BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, AND 91% LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES WHO COULDN'T EVEN APPLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ROUND, WHERE THAT FIRST ROUND RAN OUT IN JUST 2 WEEKS.

- AND SO THERE WAS ANOTHER ROUND OF PPP FUNDING IN APRIL.

WERE THERE ANY CHANGES MADE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE FUNDING DIFFICULTIES?

- ABSOLUTELY, SO THE SECOND ROUND THERE WERE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, THERE WERE MORE SET ASIDES FOR COMMUNITY BANKS AND CD AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MINORITY INSTITUTIONS CDA 5 AND MBIs HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE THE BEST JOB OF SERVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SO MORE AND MORE OF THOSE ENTITIES WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT REALLY WE SAW THE MOST CHANGES IN THIS LAST ROUND THE DECEMBER AID PACKAGE WHERE WE FINALLY HAD A MINIMUM ORIGINATION FEE THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE THE SMALL LOANS I MENTIONED.

THERE WAS A SET ASIDE JUST FOR THE CDFIs AND THE MBIs SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESSES WITH 10 EMPLOYEES AND FEWER AND THERE WAS A NEW STREAMLINED FORGIVENESS PROCESS FOR LOANS UNDER A 150 K WHICH AGAIN IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THESE BUSINESSES THAT NEED $10,000, $5,000 LOANS.

BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN MORE RECENTLY SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES MADE THAT HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL, AND ARE GOING TO BE CRUCIAL GOING FORWARD.

- AND WHY IS THIS TYPE OF FUNDING IMPORTANT TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES?

IS IT OFTEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING OPEN AND SHUTTING DOWN?

- ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE STATISTICS YOU GUYS CITED EARLIER ARE JUST SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE CRISIS, THE DROP IN BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, 41%, DROP IN ACTIVE LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES, 32% AND WHILE SOME OF THAT HAS REBOUNDED THERE ARE MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE CLOSED IN THIS CRISIS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO REOPEN.

AND THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THE LIFELINE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

AND THIS IS ALSO HOW MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR BUILD WEALTH.

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP IS A WAY TO BUILD WEALTH AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY CRUCIAL GOING FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO HELP THESE OWNERS AND COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATE IN THE RECOVERY THAT'S TO COME.

- AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TOWARDS THE FUTURE, WHAT IS THIS NEXT ROUND OF COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING MEAN FOR MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS?

- SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY PLEASED THAT JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED SOME CHANGES TO HOW LOWS ARE GOING TO BE CALCULATED FOR SOLE PROPRIETORS AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

BEFORE THEIR LOAN WAS BASED ON AN AMOUNT IN THE LOAN THAT THEY GOT WAS SO SMALL PEOPLE ARE GETTING $300 LOANS $500 LOANS.

NOW BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE, THIS EASY CHANGE THAT WAS MADE BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE.

AND NOW THAT THERE IS A SECOND DRAW LOAN, THEY ARE ABLE TO IF YOU ALREADY GOT A FIRST DRAW LOAN, YOU CAN GET THE SECOND LOAN, OR IF YOU NEVER GOT A LOAN BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR AN AMOUNT, YOU CAN NOW GET ONE.

THIS IS A CRITICAL CHANGE, BUT WE STILL NEED MORE WORK.

WE NEED THIS CHANGE AS I MENTIONED TO BE MADE RETROACTIVE SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY GOT FIRST AND SECOND DRAW LOANS AND ARE STILL STRUGGLING CAN GET THEIR LOAN AMOUNT INCREASED SO THEY CAN SURVIVE THIS CRISIS.

SO RIGHT NOW THE PROGRAM IS SLATED TO END AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT JUST PASSED AN EXTENSION THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.

WE NOW NEED THE SENATE TO PASS THAT, AND WE NEED THE CHANGES THAT WE JUST NEED TO BE MADE RETROACTIVE AND THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRAM GETS TO AS MANY OF THE SMALLEST BUSINESSES AND THOSE OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AS POSSIBLE.

- WE'LL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT.

ASHLEY, THANK YOUR TIME AND FOR LENDING YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF ROLLING OUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS FINDING ENOUGH STAFF TO ADMINISTER THESE SHOTS.

JEFF SMITH HAS MORE ON HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD IS STEPPING UP TO HELP GET THE VACCINE OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

- FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES WORKING TO GET SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES WHO NEED IT.

- THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I HAVE FIELD SOLDIERS OF MINE TOWARDS THE EAST COAST AND THE WEST TOWARDS THE WEST OF NORTH CAROLINA.

ALSO HELPING OUT THE WITH THE COVID VACCINATION.

SO WE HAVE TEAMS PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE DOING EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

- NOW THE GUARD IS TRANSITIONED FROM A SUPPLY SUPPORT TO VACCINATION ROLLOUT.

ALL ACROSS THE STATE, THE GUARD HAS BEEN HELPING GET VACCINATION GROUPS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEIR SHOTS.

- HERE IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, WE'RE HELPING OUT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE A FEW TEAMS HERE, WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION TEAM, WE ALSO HAVE A STRIKER TEAM WHICH ARE ACTUALLY GIVING OUT THE VACCINATIONS TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT PRETTY MUCH WE HELP OUT WITH THE REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

- GUARDSMEN LIKE SERGEANT SPENCER DERR ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE VACCINATION PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES THIS DRIVE-THRU MASS VACCINATION SITE HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE AS WELL AS THE PHONE LINES AT THE LIBRARY.

- I MEAN IT JUST HONOR TO BE ABLE TO -- IT'S BIGGER THAN ME, SO YOU KNOW JUST BEING ABLE TO BE HERE AND HELP OUT WITH THE PUBLIC AND YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE HERE LOVE US SO YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY THEY'RE HAPPY, YOU KNOW REALLY CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS.

- EACH SHOT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TO MOVING FORWARD BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.

SERGEANT DERR SAYS THE COMMUNITY IS APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE HEALTHCARE AND GUARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TO HELP.

- THEY COME IN FOR THEIR FIRST DOSE, AND THEY COME IN FOR THE SECOND DOSE AND WE SEE THE SAME PERSON, AND WE'RE LIKE, "HEY, HOW ARE YOU?"

SO YOU KIND OF GET TO SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES, IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORKERS, NURSES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE HAD A LADY I HAD CALL AND I HELPED HER SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO BRING ME COOKIES, AND SHE ENDED UP BRINGING ME COOKIES.

- FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M JEFF SMITH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

HERE'S WHAT'S TOM CAMPBELL HAS NEXT WEEK ON COVID UNCOVERED.

- THANK YOU DAVID.

THIS CORONAVIRUS SITUATION CHANGES ALMOST DAILY.

WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO ONCE AGAIN TALK WITH DOCTOR MANDY COHEN OF DHHS AND FIND OUT THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS.

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