COMING UP ON COVID UNCOVERED: >> THERE'S ONE EMPTY CHAIR, AND IT REALLY HITS HOME.

>> HOW A DURHAM MAN IS HONORING HIS MOTHER'S LIFE AND THE 500,000 OTHER AMERICANS WHO HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

>> IT FELT LIKE I WAS WINNING THE LOTTERY.

I SCREAMED WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL.

>> FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS LINE UP TO GET THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE.

FIND OUT WHAT STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE DOING TO GIVE MORE SHOTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

♪ WELCOME TO COVID UNCOVERED.

I'M DAVID HURST.

STATE LEADERS ARE EASING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND SPEEDING UP THE VACCINE TIMELINE.

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.

>> GOVERNOR ROY COOPER ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT NORTH CAROLINA WILL ENTER THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINATION SCHEDULE.

THIS ROUND WILL SEE FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS LINE UP.

THESE ARE MANUFACTURING WORKERS, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STAFF, SUPERMARKET WORKERS AND FOOD PROCESSING EMPLOYEES.

>> OUR ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE WORKERS HAVE REMAINED ON THE JOB THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK.

>> THE VACCINATION SCHEDULE OPENING COMES A WEEK AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND DAYS AFTER JOHNSON AND JOHNSON BEGAN SHIPPING MILLIONS OF SINGLE DOSE COVID-19 VACCINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> J&J HAS COMMUNICATED THAT THE SUPPLY WILL BE LIMITED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

FOLLOWING THIS INITIAL DISTRIBUTION OF NEARLY 4 MILLION DOSES.

>> JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S VACCINE GIVES HEALTH CARE OFFICIALS 3 OPTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 WHERE NATIONALLY INFECTION RATES ARE DROPPING.

HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN AS OUR TOTAL COVID-19 CASES.

>> IT IS FORECASTED THAT BY THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH 1ST, WEEK OF APRIL THAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING A PICKUP IN THE NUMBER OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE THEN THEY EXPECT TO HAVE EVEN MORE THAN 80,000 DOSES PER WEEK AFTER THAT POINT.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REPORTS NEARLY 820,000 NORTH CAROLINIANS HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19.

WITH VACCINE INVENTORIES INCREASING, NORTH CAROLINIANS SEEM POISED TO ENJOY A NORMAL LIFE SOONER THAN LATER.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M KELLY MCCULLEN.

>> MORE THAN 500,000 AMERICANS HAVE PASSED AWAY FROM COVID-19 INCLUDING THOUSANDS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

I VISITED WITH A DURHAM MAN WHO LOST HIS MOTHER TO THE VIRUS.

HERE'S HOW ONE YEAR LATER, HE'S HONORING HER LIFE.

>> COVID-19 CASES WERE STILL PRETTY RARE BACK IN MARCH OF 2020, WHEN CHRIS HARWARD'S 76 YEAR-OLD MOTHER STARTED FEELING SICK.

>> SHE WASN'T FEELING REALLY GOOD AND I COULD JUST TELL SOMETHING WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SOMETHING WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF.

>> JUDY HARWARD'S HEALTH ONLY GOT WORSE AND CHRIS CALLED 911.

WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED AND EVALUATED JUDY, THEY THOUGHT SHE HAD COVID-19.

>> THEY WERE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE PROTOCOL OF WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO YOU KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE HER AND NEXT THING I KNEW THEY WERE LOADING HER UP IN AN AMBULANCE AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

>> AT THE HOSPITAL, JUDY HARWARD WAS PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT.

3 DAYS LATER, SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

2 WEEKS LATER SHE PASSED AWAY.

THE FORMER DURHAM CITY COUNCIL WOMAN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA TO DIE FROM COVID-19.

>> SHE WAS VERY VERY ACTIVE ALL THROUGH LIFE.

IF YOU SAY WHAT IS SHE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR HOPEFULLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> LAST WEEK THE NATION HONORED THOSE LIKE JUDY HARWARD WHO DIED FROM COVID-19 AS THE U.S.

PASSED 500,000 DEATHS FROM THE VIRUS.

IT'S A NUMBER THAT CHRIS HARWARD SAYS IT'S DIFFICULT TO WRAP HIS MIND AROUND.

>> I STARTED TO KIND OF RESERVE MYSELF FROM EVEN WATCHING THE NEWS BECAUSE EVERY TIME I'LL HEAR ABOUT NOW YOU KNOW COVID-19 THE CORONAVIRUS, TO ME IT'S A REMINDER, IT'S AGAIN A REMINDER OF THE FUNERAL AND AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HER AND SUFFERING THAT SHE WENT THROUGH.

>> HARWARD SAYS HE HOPES THIS GRIM MILESTONE SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT THE DEATH TOLL IS MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER.

>> AND I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE SORT OF GET A LITTLE NUMB TO WHAT IT REALLY IS ABOUT AND THAT'S KIND OF THE MESSAGES AGAIN GOING BACK TO JUST JUST EVERYBODY DO THEIR PART TO CAREFUL.

>> FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M DAVID HIRST.

>> AND WITH ME NOW IS DOCTOR DAVID WOHL, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT UNC HEALTH DOCTOR WOHL, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO JOIN US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME DAVID.

SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BACK IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR THAT 500,000 MORE PEOPLE WOULD PASS AWAY FROM COVID-19, WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION HAVE BEEN?

>> BEEN HARD TO FATHOM AND BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD LOSE HALF A MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT YEAR.

IT WOULD BE THE WORST NIGHTMARE THAT WE HAVE AS INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALISTS THAT A PANDEMIC HIT US THAT HARD.

>> AND SO CAN YOU TRY AND PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW UNIQUE THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN?

>> IT'S OF COURSE FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IF NOT THE WORLD THIS IS BEEN A UNIQUE TIME AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE OR AGAIN HOPEFULLY.

BUT WE'VE BEEN IMPACTED SIGNIFICANTLY IN HEALTH CARE WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE ALL HANDS HAVE BEEN ON DECK BASICALLY SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MARCH LAST YEAR AND PERSONALLY I HAVEN'T WORKED THIS HARD SINCE I WAS A YOUNG INTERN SPENDING NIGHTS IN THE HOSPITAL.

THIS IS JUST BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE AND HEROIC EFFORT BY VERY VERY MANY COMMITTED PEOPLE.

WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT BEST WEEK EVER EXPECT FROM OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

>> LET'S SHIFT TO SOME GOOD NEWS, THEN.

WHAT IMPACT WILL THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE HAVE ON HELPING SOME OF THE VACCINE SUPPLY ISSUES?

>> YOU KNOW ALREADY BEFORE WE'VE EVEN GOT OUR FIRST DOSE OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, WE'RE SEEING INCREASED CAPACITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE VACCINE TO PUT INTO MORE PEOPLE'S ARMS AND THE MORE VACCINE THAT'S OUT THERE, THE FEWER PEOPLE WILL BE IN OUR ICUS AND FEWER PEOPLE WHO WILL BE LIKE MISS HARWARD WHO DIES, SO I THINK IT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THE CAPACITY THAT COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOES TO THE STATES AND THEN GOES TO OUR LOCAL CLINICS AND VACCINE CENTERS.

SO THIS IS REALLY A GAME CHANGER FOR US.

WE WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO VACCINATE MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT UNC HEALTH IS GETTING ABOUT 4,000 JOHNSON & JOHNSON DOSES THIS WEEK.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DETERMINING WHO GETS THE PFIZER MODERNA SHOT AND WHO GETS THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT?

>> WE KNOW THAT THE PFIZER AND MODERNA SHOTS ARE VERY VERY SIMILAR.

THE INNARDS OF THE 2 VACCINES ARE IDENTICAL SO THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO DISTINGUISH ONE VERSUS THE OTHER FOR THE J&J OR JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF VACCINE AND THE DATA SUPPORTING IT DON'T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE DATA FOR THE PFIZER AND MODERNA SHOTS SO UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW THIS WORKS AND IF IT IS COMPARABLE, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS.

ON THE OTHER HAND IT'S A ONE SHOT, ONE AND DONE, IT SEEMS ABSOLUTELY PROTECTED AGAINST SEVERE COVID-19 DISEASE HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH WHICH IS WHAT MATTERS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO REALLY WANT JUST THAT ONE SHOT OF THE J & J VACCINE.

SO WE'RE OFFERING IT IN CLINICS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO J&J.

SO PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY COME IN THAT THEY'RE SIGNING UP FOR THAT PARTICULAR VACCINE.

>> AND WITH THE MORE VACCINES, IT SEEMS THAT WE SEE MORE AND MORE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE BEING EASED.

THIS WEEK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THAT TEXAS ANNOUNCED THEY'RE ROLLING BACK ALL THEIR RESTRICTIONS.

DO YOU BELIEVE WE'RE AT A POINT WITH THIS VIRUS WHERE THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

>> NO I DON'T AGREE WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA AND I UNFORTUNATELY PREDICT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SURGES IN CASES THERE.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LET DOWN OUR GUARD.

WE ARE EXACTLY WHERE WE WANT TO BE POST THE SURGE THAT WE SAW IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

WE WANTED TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN, THEY HAVE, NOW WE'RE AT A PLATEAU.

WE NEED TO BE HYPER VIGILANT.

THIS IS THE TIME WE CAN REALLY PUSH FURTHER TO GET TO LOW LEVELS OF NEW CASES LOW LEVELS OF HOSPITALIZATION THAT CONTINUE TO DROP AND LOWER LEVELS OF DEATH.

ONE OUT OF ABOUT 700 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PULL BACK.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE THAT AND SEEN MASSIVE SURGES.

>> AND SO FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU DOCTOR, I ASKED YOU EARLIER TO LOOK BACK, NOW ASK YOU TO LOOK FORWARD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT YEAR WILL BE LIKE AS IT'S RELATES TO COVID-19?

>> IT'S UP TO US.

UP TO OUR LEADERS, IT'S UP TO US AS INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE OUR FATE.

THIS IS NOT JUST WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US AND WE HAVE NO CONTROL.

IF WE ARE MORE VIGILANT, IF WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DECLINES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

APRIL COULD BE BETTER THAN MARCH, AND THEN JULY, JUNE-JULY COULD BE BETTER THAN APRIL.

BUT IF WE PULL BACK IF WE OPEN UP BARS AND RESTAURANTS, IF WE DROP OUR MASKS, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN BIG TROUBLE.

THERE'S A VARIANTS OUT THERE THAT ARE MORE CATCHY THAN THE VIRUS THAT'S BEEN PREDOMINATING SINCE LAST MARCH.

THIS IS THE TIME TO REALLY REDOUBLE.

DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS THAT HAVE REALLY GOTTEN US AS FAR AS WE HAVE.

SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING, SOME BUSINESSES ARE REOPENING, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO REALLY BE CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T SPREAD VARIANT VIRUS, AND THAT WE DON'T SPREAD THE VIRUS THAT CAN IMPACT OTHERS AND MAKE THEM HOSPITALIZED AND SICK.

>> DOCTOR WOHL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK FIGHTING THIS VIRUS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION.

PEOPLE IN GROUP 3, FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, CAN NOW GET THE VACCINE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

EDUCATORS HAD FIRST PRIORITY AND BEGAN GETTING THEIR SHOTS LAST WEEK.

JOSHUA SENEGAL HAS THAT STORY.

>> MANY TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE FEELING RELIEF AFTER RECEIVING THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> IT JUST OFFERS US THAT EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT UNDOUBTEDLY WILL MAKE US FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS IN THE LONG RUN.

>> NATALIE MACPHERSON IS AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT SANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN RALEIGH.

SHE WAS EAGER TO GET THE VACCINE AND SURPRISED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT ON THE FIRST DAY.

>> HONESTLY IT FELT LIKE I WAS WINNING THE LOTTERY.

I SCREAMED WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL.

I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS LEGITIMATE, AND THEN OF COURSE I SIGNED UP IMMEDIATELY.

>> MORE THAN 3,000 EDUCATORS IN WAKE COUNTY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE LAST WEEK, WITH THOUSANDS MORE EXPECTED TO JOIN THEM THIS WEEK.

>> EVERY VACCINE THAT'S A MINISTER IN THIS COUNTY IS ENCOURAGING, BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE VACCINE DATA SO FAR IS THAT IT REDUCES DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND THAT'S REALLY I THINK WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO STOP WITH VACCINATIONS IS REALLY TRYING TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SO FAR THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO VACCINATE MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR VACCINE GROUPS ONE AND TWO.

>> WAKE COUNTY IS A BIG COUNTY.

TO HELP THE NUMBER OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND ALL JUST JUST MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE TEACHERS, BUT NOW THAT WE ARE MOVING THROUGH PHASE GROUPS ONE AND TWO, WE'RE HERE AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS HAPPENING WHILE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE REOPEN FOR IN PERSON LEARNING.

THE CHAIR OF WAKE COUNTY'S BOARD OF EDUCATION TOLD US THAT THE SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC IS LEAVING MANY STUDENTS BEHIND.

>> SO WE WERE ANXIOUS TO GET STUDENTS BACK INTO THE BUILDING AS SOON AS WE CAN TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE RISKS.

>> AS FOR MACPHERSON, SHE'S ANXIOUS TO GET HER SECOND DOSE IN A FEW WEEKS.

ON MARCH 17TH, WHICH ALSO HAPPENS TO BE HER BIRTHDAY.

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M JOSHUA SENEGAL.

>> AND HERE WITH ME NOW IS LISA MACON HARRISON, PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR GRANVILLE VANCE PUBLIC HEALTH.

LISA THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TODAY.

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANKS.

>> SO WE JUST SAW HOW THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS GOING IN WAKE COUNTY.

HOW ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

HOW ARE THINGS GOING UP THERE?

>> YES, GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES ARE JUST NORTH OF DURHAM AND WAKE, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, SMALLER POPULATION TO SERVE, WHICH SURPRISINGLY HAS BEEN A REALLY NICE WAY TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THESE FIRST 3 GROUPS, A LITTLE BIT FASTER THAN WE EVEN EXPECTED.

BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE DAILY, OUR NURSES ARE WORKING HARD GETTING SHOTS UP TO THE PEOPLE AND IT'S KIND OF AN EXCITING TIME.

>> SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BALANCING GETTING SHOTS TO GROUP 3, EDUCATORS AND FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHILE ALSO WORKING THROUGH ANY POTENTIAL WAITING LISTS OF FOLKS IN GROUP ONE AND TWO?

>> WELL WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN REGISTER FOR VACCINE.

ONE IS OUR HOT LINE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT GBPH.ORG.

ANOTHER IS THAT WE REACH OUT AND WORK WITH OUR SCHOOLS WORK WITH OUR COUNTIES OR CITIES OR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE AND WHO QUALIFY AND THESE FIRST 3 GROUPS.

AS I SAID WE'VE MADE REALLY GOOD PROGRESS FOR GROUPS ONE AND TWO, THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

AND ALSO THOSE 65 AND OLDER WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW TO COME TO ALL OF OUR VACCINE CLINICS MOVING FORWARD, AND WE DO HAVE A HANDFUL OF EACH OF THOSE GROUPS WHO JUST DECIDE NOW MAY BE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE VACCINE, SO IT'S WORKING TO BE ABLE TO ROLL IN NEW GROUPS AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE GROUPS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE GOOD PROGRESS IN.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT SUPPLY CHALLENGES WITH THIS VACCINE.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER STRUGGLES OR CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACED IN TRYING TO GET THE VACCINE OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, I HEARD SOMEONE ACTUALLY THE HEALTH DIRECTOR IN FULTON COUNTY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA SAID ON A CALL YESTERDAY THAT IT'S NOT VACCINE HESITATION SHE WORRIES ABOUT, IT'S REGISTRATION FRUSTRATION.

SO I THINK ALL OF US ARE TRYING TO FIND THE EASY BUTTONS, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE IN AS EASILY AS POSSIBLE TO VACCINE CLINICS AND WE DON'T PUT UP ANY BARRIERS, AND YET, WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH A LOT OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS HELPING US OUT, HELPING US WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE FIRST DOSE AND THEN THE SECOND DOSE FOR PEOPLE WHICH IS IMPORTANT, SO THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THAT CERTAINLY ADDS COMPLEXITY.

THE OTHER THING IS JUST THAT THE 2 DOSE REGIMEN FOR BOTH PFIZER AND MODERNA MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET THAT AND COME BACK ON TIME.

>> AS A RURAL COMMUNITY TRYING TO ROLL OUT THIS VACCINE, WHAT KIND OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE THAT MAY BE AN URBAN COMMUNITY LIKE RALEIGH OR CHARLOTTE MAY NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT?

>> WELL CERTAINLY WE ALWAYS ARE WORKING WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN A RURAL AREA AND THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT HOURS OTHER THAN 8:30 TO 5 EVERY DAY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS VACCINE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO OFFER WEEKEND VACCINE CLINICS AS WELL AS LIKE I MENTIONED REACH OUT TO PARTNERS.

WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE SENIOR CENTER EARLY ON WHICH WAS A ROUSING SUCCESS TO TRY TO REACH AREAS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET PEOPLE INTO A VACCINE CLINIC, THE SENIOR CENTER HELPED US WITH THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOCAL SORT OF REGIONAL KERR-TAR AREA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, KARTS, WILLING TO BRING PEOPLE IN FOR VACCINE.

AND THAT'S ALSO HELPFUL, BUT CERTAINLY THAT THE OUTER REACHES OF RURAL AREAS ARE ALWAYS PLACES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND VACCINES.

AND WE WORK HARD TO TRY TO DO THAT WELL.

>> AND AS YOU KNOW THE NEXT GROUP UP IS GROUP FOUR, ADULTS WITH HIGH-RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT COULD BEGIN AS SOON AS MARCH 24TH, DO YOU SEE THAT AS A REALISTIC TIMELINE?

>> YES, I DO ACTUALLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS WELL AS OUR CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

WE SHOULD WRAP UP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEES THIS FRIDAY AND A LARGE CLINIC WE'RE HAVING IN HENDERSON, AND WE WILL BE READY TO CONTINUE ON WITH GROUP 3 UNTIL MARCH 24TH WHEN GROUP 4 STARTS AND I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

LISA THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT.

>> YES, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALONG WITH K-12 STUDENTS, MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE BACK ON CAMPUS THIS SEMESTER.

EVAN HOWELL HAS MORE ON WHAT UNIVERSITIES ARE DOING TO ENSURE A SAFE RETURN TO CAMPUS.

>> I MEAN IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL THAT THE PRESIDENT IS IMPEACHED.

>> NC STATE SOPHOMORE HANNAH BRAUN SPENT ALL OF 2020 AT HOME BEHIND HER COMPUTER.

THE POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR MISSES THE OLD NORMAL OF BEING ON CAMPUS.

>> I THINK IT'S MORE CONDUCIVE FOR DISCUSSION SO I DECIDED TO TRUST THE UNIVERSITY AND TAKE THE IN PERSON CLASS.

>> BRAUN SAYS MANY STUDENTS ARE STILL WONDERING IF IT'S SAFE ENOUGH TO COME IN FOR CLASS.

SHE SAYS SHE UNDERSTANDS WHY SOME MAY STAY HOME.

>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO LEASE BECAUSE I'M NOT IMMUNOCOMPROMISED BUT FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE LIVING AT HOME OR ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE REALLY HESITANT ABOUT THIS WHOLE IN PERSON CLASS THING.

>> THE TRUTH IS SOME STUDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED.

I THINK SOME STUDENTS ENDED UP DROPPING THIS CLASS BECAUSE ITS IN PERSON.

ALEX RIGHT?

>> IF WORKING ON ZOOM LAST SEMESTER TAUGHT HIM ANYTHING, PROFESSOR STEVEN GREEN SAYS IT'S THAT NOTHING COMPARES TO TEACHING STUDENTS FACE TO FACE.

>> IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

BUT IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME AS BEING IN THAT ACTUAL ROOM WITH PEOPLE AND HAVING THAT GIVE AND TAKE HAVING THE BODY LANGUAGE HAVING THE EYE CONTACT.

YOU JUST CAN'T COPY THAT.

>> NC STATE HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PANDEMIC RESPONSE PLAN TO KEEP STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE ON CAMPUS.

GREEN USES AN AIR MONITOR TO CHECK FOR ANY AIRBORNE SIGNS OF THE VIRUS.

>> IF THE INSTITUTION TAKES SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN HAVE SAFE IN PERSON COLLEGE TEACHING, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE EVIDENCE OF THE LACK OF OUTBREAK SHOWS AND THE EVIDENCE WITH THE SAFETY I'VE SEEN IN MY CLASSROOM.

>> NEARBY DUKE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL GIVE SOME STUDENTS THE OPTION OF IN PERSON INSTRUCTION.

MEANWHILE, RON IS LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING BACK TO THAT OLD NORMAL.

>> NORMAL MEANS BEING ABLE TO HAVE MY MENTAL HEALTH UP TO PAR AND SEE FRIENDS AND MAKE NECESSARY INTELLECTUAL CONNECTIONS IN PERSONAL CONNECTIONS, NORMAL JUST MEANS BEING ABLE TO HAVE FUN LIKE WE USED TO.

>> FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M EVAN HOWELL.

>> AND JOINING ME NOW IS KEVIN MCCLURE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT UNC WILMINGTON, KEVIN THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SEEING SPIKES IN DAILY CASE COUNTS OR LARGE CLUSTERS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES LIKE WE WERE LAST SEMESTER.

WHAT YOU THINK IT'S DIFFERENT THE SEMESTER?

>> I THINK ONE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE PANDEMIC HEADING INTO SPRING SEMESTER WERE VERY DIFFERENT AND IN SOME CASES MORE DANGEROUS THAN THEY WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF FALL SEMESTER.

BUT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT COLLEGES HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND SO BETWEEN FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS MADE CHANGES.

SO THAT INCLUDES BETTER TESTING, MORE FREQUENT TESTING, SURVEILLANCE TESTING, CONTACT TRACING.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE EFFORTS COMBINED WITH STUDENTS MAY BE PAYING CLOSER ATTENTION AND BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE CAUTIOUS HAS RESULTED IN LOWER CASE COUNTS.

>> AND THIS PAST FALL SEMESTER THE UNC SYSTEM SET AN ENROLLMENT RECORD DESPITE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU?

>> A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE IS THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS ENJOYED POPULATION GROWTH AND SO THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE LOOKING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT AND CERTAINLY BY THE TIME IT HAD INTENSIFIED, MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS IN MORE AFFLUENT FAMILIES HAD ALREADY MADE THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND WHERE AND SO FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THOSE PLANS.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MENTION IS THAT WE HAVE A FANTASTIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

AND THANKS TO RELATIVELY GOOD STATE SUPPORT STATE FUNDING WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE COLLEGE OPTIONS AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN COMING TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> AND WE HEARD IN THAT STORY THAT STUDENT TALK ABOUT HOW COVID-19 HAS REALLY CHANGED THE WAY STUDENTS LIVE AND LEARN.

I IMAGINE SOME OF THESE CHANGES WILL BE TEMPORARY, BUT WHAT CHANGES DO YOU THINK WILL BE MORE PERMANENT?

>> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE CASE THAT FACT TO STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH ONE ANOTHER TO BE ON CAMPUS WITH EACH OTHER, BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS THAT MORE FACULTY AND STUDENTS WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED HYBRID AND ONLINE LEARNING AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT EXPERIENCE WILL BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

AND I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE MORE HYBRID IN PARTICULAR LEARNING GOING FORWARD WHERE STUDENTS ARE TAKING SOME CLASSES AND COURSES, IN PERSON, ON CAMPUS.

BUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ONLINE AS WELL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING WORKING ADULTS AND COMMUTER STUDENTS FOR WHOM THIS HYBRID STYLE OF LEARNING COULD WORK REALLY WELL, AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO BE MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE FOR WHOM IN THE PAST IT WASN'T.

>> AND SO YOU WORKED ON A STUDY THAT HIGHLIGHTED COVID-19'A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON RURAL COLLEGES AND COMMUNITIES OR SOME OF THE MAIN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT?

>> ONE BIG THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT COLLEGES ARE NOT FUNDED EQUALLY, AND YOU HAVE RICH COLLEGES AND POOR COLLEGES, EVEN HEADING INTO THE PANDEMIC AND COVID-19 HAS RESULTED IN MORE EXPENSES FOR COLLEGES THEY HAVE LOST REVENUES AND SO THERE ARE MANY COLLEGES THAT HAVE STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS, AND SO A BIG FINDING FOR US IS THAT IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HIGHER EDUCATION, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> AND REAL BRIEFLY KEVIN KNOWING THAT THESE RURAL PUBLIC COLLEGES ARE A BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR COMMUNITIES, WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THE SCHOOLS DON'T SURVIVE?

>> AS I MENTIONED YOU LOSE OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN ALSO BE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF JOBS AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A DOWNWARD SPIRAL WITHIN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE MANY OF THESE COLLEGES ARE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

>> KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS TOPIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MOST PEOPLE RECOVER FROM COVID-19 WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

BUT SOME EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS FOR FAR LONGER.

JEFF SMITH HAS MORE ON WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A COVID-19 LONG HAULER.

>> MY OXYGEN AND BLOOD PRESSURE DROPPED SO LOW THEY COULDN'T WAKE ME UP, THE DOCTOR AND NURSES WERE STANDING OVER ME SHAKING ME, TRYING TO GET ME TO WAKE UP, AND I COULDN'T.

I STILL WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE TWO FACES AS LONG AS I LIVE.

>> ANGIE DAOUD AND HER HUSBAND BOTH CONTRACTED COVID IN THE SUMMER OF 2020.

>> HE GOT SICK FIRST.

HE CAME BACK SICK, PRETTY MUCH.

THAT WAS LIKE JULY 12TH.

THAT WAS MONDAY JULY 12TH.

HIS WAS MORE GASTROINTESTINAL TYPE SYMPTOMS WITH JUST A TAD OF RESPIRATORY WE MADE HIM GO BE TESTED.

AND HE WAS POSITIVE, IT TOOK LIKE 5 DAYS FOR US TO GET THAT TEST, THOUGH, SO WE SHUT THE HOME OFFICE DOWN.

I STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS THAT FRIDAY WHICH WAS THE 17TH, THE 18TH, I WENT INTO THE DOCTOR MINE WAS TOTALLY RESPIRATORY FROM DAY ONE.

>> AFTER TESTING POSITIVE ANGIE WAS ASKED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO HER RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

SHE DID NOT GO IMMEDIATELY SO SHE COULD GET HER DOGS TO A FRIEND WHO COULD TAKE CARE OF THEM WHILE SHE WAS AWAY.

>> I ALLOWED MYSELF TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT WAS LIKE THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, THE 25TH, AND I DIDN'T COME HOME UNTIL AUGUST 8TH.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 16 DAYS [INAUDIBLE] >> WHILE ANGIE WAS ABLE TO AVOID BEING PLACED ON A VENTILATOR WHILE IN ICU, SHE HAD TO FACE THE REALITY OF HOW SCARY THIS DISEASE IS.

>> BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AND ISOLATION.

STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, NOT KNOWING IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE OR DIE, IS LIKE SO SCARY AND TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU KNOW I'VE TAKEN CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES FOR YEARS, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT POST INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS.

>> DOCTOR, CHRISTOPHER WOODS IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCHER WITH DUKE UNIVERSITY AND THE DURHAM VA HIS TEAM HAS BEEN MONITORING LONG-HAUL PATIENTS LIKE ANGIE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THESE SYMPTOMS CONTINUE FAR BEYOND THE INITIAL VIRAL EXPOSURE.

>> THERE ARE OTHER COMPLICATIONS, WE TALK ABOUT, THERE'S A LOT OF DELIRIUM OR CONFUSION THAT WE'RE STARTING TO APPRECIATE IN THESE PATIENTS, EVEN IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MILDER DISEASE.

THEY DON'T JUST HAVE TO BE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

AND THAT CAN HAVE SOME LONG LEGS TO IT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BRAIN FOG AND DIFFICULTY THINKING AND DOING HIGHER LEVEL COGNITIVE SKILLS THAT THEY HAD BEFORE MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO COME BACK.

>> I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO GET TO THE POINT THAT'S LIVEABLE, THAT'S MANAGEABLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER BE 100% AGAIN.

RIGHT NOW I DON'T FEEL LIKE I WILL EVER BE 100% AGAIN.

I WANT THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH US TO TRY TO HELP OTHERS IN THE FUTURE.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M JEFF SMITH.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP 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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