T LISTEN TO GOVERNOR ROY COOPER ON THE STATE OF THE STATE.
GOV. COOPE 2735 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SADLY, 5881 HAVE DIED.
I WOULD MAKE PARTICULAR MENTION TODAY OF MY FRIEND OF GASTONIA.
A KIND AND WONDERFUL SOUL WHO PASSED AWAY FRIDAY WHILE BATTLING COVID-19.
OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH HER LOVED ONES AND ALL OF THOSE WHO LOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON COMING UP ON US, THIS IS A TOUGH TIME FOR PEOPLE WORRYING ABOUT A SICK LOVED ONE AND ESPECIALL THOSE WHO GRIEVE THE LOSS OF SOMEONE CLOSE.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU.
THERE IS REAL HELP WE CAN STOP THOSE PAINFUL LOSSES.
VACCINATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
THE FIRST COVID-19 VACCINE SHIPMENT ARRIVED AT 7:20 A.M.
YESTERDAY MORNING AT WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HOSPITAL.
I SPOKE TO A NORTH CAROLINA UPS DRIVER WHO MADE THAT DELIVERY WHICH WAS THE FIRST IN THE COUNTR IN ADDITION TO THE THREE YESTERDAY, EIGHT MOR HOSPITALS
RECEIVED SHIPMENTS TODAY.
AND BEGAN VACCINATING.
42 HOSPITALS WILL RECEIVE SHIPMENTS ON THURSDAY.
OUR NORTH CAROLINA TEAM SPENT MONTHS PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT.
NOW, WE ARE MOVING OUR VACCINATION PLAN INTO ACTION.
BECAUSE SUPPLY OF VACCINE IS VERY LIMITED RIGHT NOW, HEALTH CARE WORKERS CARING FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS ALONG WITH THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE UP FIRST.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE.
IF THE MODER VACCINE IS AUTHORIZED BY AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE BY THE FDA O THURSDAY, WE EXPECT TO GET 175,000 DOSES OF THAT VACCINE NEXT WEEK.
JUST OVER HALF OF THOSE WILL GO TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
WE ASK THAT -- EXPECT THEM TO BE GETTING VACCINATED AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
BEYOND THAT, QUESTIONS REMAIN.
NORTH CAROLINA AND EVERY OTHER STATE STILL NEEDS CLEARANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF HOW MANY DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE WE WILL RECEIVE GOING FORWARD.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EACH FRIDAY WE WILL GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK’S SHIPMENT GIVING THE STATES A FEW HOURS TO DIRECT WHERE THOSE SHIPMENTS
WILL GO.
YESTERDAY, I RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE ON A CALL WITH OTHER GOVERNORS.
I ASKED FOR MORE TIME WHICH IS CRITICAL AS OUR VACCINES ROLLOUT ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY SAID THEY WILL WORK ON IT.
RIGHT NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DR. MANDY COH, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE FOR US.
DR. COHEN: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
I WILL START WITH THE GOOD NEWS.
AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, THE FIRST DOSES OF VACCINE HAVE ARRIVED AND HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA.
IT WAS A HISTORIC AND EMOTIONAL DAY FOR MANY AS WE FINALLY HAVE A NEW TOOL TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THIS VIRUS.
YESTERDAY, THREE HOSPITALS BEGAN VACCINATING THEIR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
AS A REMINDER, MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN PFIZER’S CLINICAL TRIALS.
THE DATA SHOWED THE VACCINE IS NEARLY 95% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING COVID-19.
AND REMEMBER, YOU CANNOT GET COVID-19 FROM THE VACCINE ITSELF.
THE VACCINE IMITATES THE INFECTIONS OR BODY THINKS A GERM LIKE THE VIRUS IS ATTACKING.
THIS CREATES THE ANTIBODY DEFENSE WE NEED TO FIGHT OFF COVID IF AND WHEN THE REAL GERM ATTACKS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE VERY LIMITED VACCINE SUPPLIES AT FIRST.
THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT COVID-19 IS TO START FIRST WITH A VACCINATION FOR THOSE AT HIGHEST AS A VACCINE SUPPLY INCREASES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE STARTING FIRST WITH OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT HIGHEST RISK OF EXPOSURE AND OUR LONG-TERM CARE STAFF AND RESIDENTS.
AN EFFORT OF THIS SCALE, WE KNOW, IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE ITS BUMPS.
THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE, THE BETTER EVERYONE CAN PLAN.
AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED, WE STILL DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH PFIZER VACCINE NORTH CAROLINA IS GOING TO RECEIVE NEXT WEEK.
WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS THAT THESE QUANTITIES WILL BE SHARED ON FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE SHIPPING ON MONDAY.
I HOPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL RECONSIDER THAT TIMELINE.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO ALLOW THE STATE AND PROVIDERS TO PLAN FOR APPROPRIATE ALLOCATIONS OR SUPPORTED EIGHT VACCINE SCHEDULES FOR STAFF.
WHILE YESTERDAY WAS A PIVOTAL DAY, WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO RIGH NOW TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS DEADLY VIRUS.
WE ARE EXPERIENCE A STAGGERING INCREASE IN OUR PANDEMIC TRENDS AND I AM PARTICULARLY WORRIED ABOUT OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY.
JUST ONE MONTH AGO, WE HAD 1395 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19.
TODAY, WE HAVE 2735 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED THAN WE HAD ON NOVEMBER 15.
ONE MONTH AGO, WE HAD 350 PEOPLE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WITH COVID-19.
TODAY, WE HAVE 643 PEOPLE IN THE ICU.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL GETTING SO NUMB TO THESE NUMBERS SO I’M ASKING YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.
THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WE LOVE.
TOO MANY NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL, AND TO MANY ARE DYING.
I KNOW NO ONE WANTS THIS FOR OUR STATE.
TOGETHER, WE CAN PROTECT NORTH CAROLINIANS FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND MAKE SURE OUR HOSPITALS ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE, WHETHER IT IS FOR A BROKEN ARM OR A HEART ATTACK OR COVID-19.
KEEP WEARING A MASK WHEN YOU ARE WITH ANYONE WHO DOESN’T LIVE WITH YOU.
KEEP WAITING SIX FEET APART.
KEEP WASHING YOUR HANDS OFTEN.
THESE SMALL ACTIONS CAN HAVE BIG IMPACT AND THEY SAVE LIVES . WE HAVE A HD ASK FOR EVERYONE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
THE CDC IS RECOMMENDING PEOPLE DO NOT TRAVEL, AND INSTEAD, STAY HOME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST TRAVEL OR GATHER WH OTHERS, IT’S ESSENTIAL YOU GET TESTED AHEAD OF TIME.
WEAR A MASK ALL THE TIME AND KEEP IT SMALL AND OUTDOORS.
OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE ARE SPONSORING MORE THAN 300 FREE COMMUNITY TESTING EVENTS, INCLUDING A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH AGRO SUPPLY, HOME DEPOT, PIGGLY WIGGLY, AND WEGMAN STORES IN
SEVEN COUNTIES.
GO ONLINE TO FIND A FREE TESTING EVENT NEAR YOU.
LET’S KEEP PROTECTING WHAT ANOTHER.
WHATEVER YOUR REASON, GET BEHIND THE MASK.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
GOV. COOPER: THANK YOU, DR.
COHEN.
THANKS TO YOU AND OUR TEAM FOR WORKING HARD TO PREPARE FOR THIS MOMENT.
BUT THE NUMBERS YOU HAVE LAID OUT ARE TOO HIGH AND THE VACCINE CANNOT YET HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT.
WE MUST GET THESE TRENDS TURNED AROUND.
SEEING VACCINATIONS UNDERWAY GIVES US HOPE AT THE END OF A HARD YEAR.
BUT, THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO BE EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY.
WE NEED TO PERSEVERE AND KEEP USING OUR TRIED AND TRUE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
FOLLOW THE MODIFIED STAY-AT-HOME ORDER.
CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOVED ONES BY WEARING MASKS.
KEEP DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS.
THE MORE CAREFUL WE ARE NOW, THE MORE LIVES WE WILL SAVE.
LAST WEEK, DR. COHEN, OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY AND I SENT A LETTER TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
WE’RE URGING THEM TO HELP U WITH ENFORCEMENT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH CIVIL PENALTIES INCLUDING FINES FOR VIOLATIONS INSTEAD OF CRIMINAL CHARGES, WHICH WE BELIEVE COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
ADVISORY OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE.
WHAT WE NEED NOW IS THEIR DETERMINATION TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
OUR AIM IS NOT TO GET PEOPLE IN TROUBLE.
IT IS TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS AND TO KEEP IT FROM OVERWHELMING OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS.
I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALREADY TAKING ACTION TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
WITH THE HOLIDAYS HERE, I KNOW IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE MISSING OUT ON OUR BELOVED TRADITIONS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS GETTING TOGETHER.
BUT, JUST LIKE THANKSGIVING, WE NEED TO RETHINK WHAT IT MEANS TO CELEBRATE THIS DECEMBER.
WE’RE JUST SEEING THE THANKSGIVING COVID-19 SPIKE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
AND THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS COULD BE EVEN WORSE.
THE SAFEST OPTION IS TO CONNECT ONLINE OR BY PHONE.
AND IF YOU HAVE TOGETHER IN PERSON, TRY TO GET TESTED FIRST DO IT OUTDOORS,, LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND WEAR A MASK.
COVID-19 TESTS ARE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.
AS DR. COH MENTIONED, WE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RETAILERS TO PROVIDE NO-COST TESTS THAT FAMILIAR SITES.
IN ADDITION TO EXISTING TESTING EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
AGAIN, YOU CAN GO TO THAT NCDHHS .GOV/TESTINGPLACE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET A TEST.
REMEMBER, A NEGATIVE TEST DOES NOT GIVE YOU A FREE PASS.
IT JUST MAKES IT SAFER.
YOU WILL STILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK, STAY OUTDOORS, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
IN CASE YOU CONTRACTED THE VIRUS AFTER YOU GOT TESTED.
THESE ARE SIMPLE MEASURES THAT WORK.
DOING THEM ENSURES THAT MORE OF OUR LOVED ONES WILL BE WITH US FOR THE NEXT HOLIDAY SEASON.
WITH AN END IN SIGHT, LET’S COME TOGETHER AND WORK HARD THESE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO KEEP OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY SAFE.