>> GOOD AFTER NOON, EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S UPDATE ON COVID-19 AS OF TODAY WE HAVE HAD 952,529 CASES.

1963 NEW CASES REPORTED SINCE YESTERDAY.

1168 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SADLY, 12,480 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

OUR PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH THOSE WHO'VE LOST FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING COVID-19.

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS TURNING THE CORNER ON THIS PANDEMIC.

OUR COVID-19 TRENDS REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SEEN SLIGHT INCREASES OF THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE FACT THAT OUR NUMBERS AREN'T YET DECLINING REMINDS US OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAY VIGILANT IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

NORTH CAROLINA STRONG SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND ACTIONS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OR WHY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID A SURGE IN CASES OVERWHELMING OUR HOSPITALS.

AND OUR CAREFUL REASONED APPROACH HAS WORKED.

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE.

NUMBERS RELEASED FROM THE CDC AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOW THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS AMONG THE STATES WITH THE FEWEST DEATHS AND FEWEST JOB LOSSES PER CAPITA.

WE PUT HELP AND SAFETY FIRST.

BUT WE'VE WORKED WITH BUSINESSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO GET IT RIGHT.

NOW I WANT TO LOOK FORWARD AND SEE WHERE WE CAN BE AS SPRING TURNS INTO SUMMER.

FIRST WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST 2/3 OF ADULTS HAVE AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WITH AT LEAST 2/3 OF ADULTS VACCINATED OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH PROTECTION ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO LIVE MORE SAFELY WITH THIS VIRUS AND TO BEGIN TO PUT THE PANDEMIC BEHIND US.

WE NOW HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF VACCINES SO WE NEED EVERYBODY TO STEP UP.

AS WE WORK ON VACCINATIONS WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COVID TRENDS SUCH AS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS STABLE.

AND WE NEED TO KEEP BEING CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP THOSE TRENDS DOWN AND SAVE LIVES.

I BELIEVE WE CAN.

WITH INCREASING VACCINATION RATES AND ONGOING WORK TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIFT ALL MANDATORY SOCIAL DISTANCING.

CAPACITY AND MASS GATHERING RESTRICTIONS BY JUNE THE FIRST.

AND I PLAN TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER NEXT WEEK OUTLINING SAFETY RESTRICTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

BEING ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS IS GOOD NEWS FOR NORTH CAROLINA.

AND HERE'S HOW WE CAN KEEP DOING IT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE VACCINES IN A WAY THAT'S FAST AND FAIR AND WE WON'T LET UP.

AS OF TODAY ALMOST HALF OF ADULTS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE SHOT AND MORE THAN A 3RD ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND FOR OUR MORE VULNERABLE AGE 65 AND OLDER POPULATION, ALMOST 77% HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE SHOT AND MORE THAN 71% ARE FULLY VACCINATED THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

BUT WE MUST KEEP GOING STRONG.

AND IN A MOMENT.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES DOCTOR MANDY COHEN WILL TALK ABOUT A CAMPAIGN WE'RE ROLLING OUT TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

ALTHOUGH WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS WE HAVEN'T BEATEN COVID-19 YET.

AND THE VIRUS WILL STILL BE WITH US EVEN AFTER JUNE, THE FIRST.

SO WE NEED TO KEEP BEING RESPONSIBLE.

WE NEED TO KEEP WEARING MASK.

WE NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

AND WE NEED BUSINESSES TO KEEP PAYING ATTENTION TO CURRENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND FUTURE HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS.

WITH ELIGIBILITY NOW OPEN TO ALL ADULTS IN APPOINTMENTS EASILY AVAILABLE CLOSE YOUR HOME.

WE URGE EVERYONE AGES, 16 AND OLDER MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THE TIME NOW TO GO AND GET A SHOT.

THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND FREE FOR EVERYONE.

THERE ARE MANY SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS AND WALK INS ALLOWED.

THEY ARE EASY AND EVERYWHERE.

VACCINES ARE THE KEY TO US MOVING FORWARD.

TO STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY TO MAKING SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE ON TRACK FOR SCHOOL NOW AND IN THE FALL.

TO HUGGING OUR LOVED ONES SAFELY.

AND TO SAVING LIVES.

EACH SHOT IN AN ARM IS A STEP CLOSER TO PUTTING THIS PANDEMIC IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

NORTH CAROLINIANS HAVE SHOWN UP FOR EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC.

WE NEED TO KEEP THAT COMMITMENT BY GETTING OUR VACCINES.

AND IF YOU ARE GOT NEW SHOT HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES TO GET VACCINATED AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GET VACCINATED GO TO MY SPOT DOT NC .GOV TO LEARN MORE.

IN THE MEANTIME WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE DATA AND THE TRENDS BOTH HERE AND IN OTHER STATES.

WHAT WE SEE THERE ACROSS THE WORLD WITH THE NEW VARIANTS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

LET'S NOT BECOME ONE OF THOSE STATES THAT SEEING A SHARP INCREASE.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE BEYOND THIS WEAR A MAKS, BE RESPONSIBLE, USE GOOD JUDGMENT, GET VACCINATED.

WE'RE SO CLOSE.

AND TOGETHER WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS AND COME OUT EVEN STRONGER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL RECOGNIZE DOCTOR COHEN TO SHARE AN UPDATE.

>> THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR SHARED WE IF WE WORK TOGETHER GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED AND KEEPING OUR METRICS IN A GOOD PLACE.

WE CAN BRING BACK SUMMER TO NORTH CAROLINA.

WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

OUR TRENDS ARE LARGELY STABLE OR EARLY WARNING SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM WHO SHOWED PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH COVID LIKE SYMPTOMS CONTINUES TO BE STABLE AND LOW.

OUR CASES ARE STABLE THOUGH THE PERCENT OF OUR TESTED ARE POSITIVE HAS INCHED UP A BIT AND IS NOW THAT OVER 5%.

OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SLIGHTLY UP OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS BUT HOSPITALS HAVE CAPACITY.

WE ALSO CONTINUE TO VACCINATE PEOPLE QUICKLY AS THE GOVERNOR SAID ALMOST HALF OF NORTH CAROLINIANS 18 AND OLDER ARE VACCINATED WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID HAVE BEEN VACCINATED MORE THAN 70% OF ADULTS, 65 AND OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED THIS AMAZING.

AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO LIFTING MOST REQUIREMENTS IN JUNE.

I WILL NOTE THAT MASKS WILL STILL BE IMPORTANT.

AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL STILL BE RECOMMENDED IN CERTAIN SETTINGS FIRST CHILDREN UNDER 16 ARE NOT CURRENTLY ABLE TO GET VACCINATED SO THERE WILL BE ONGOING SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLACES LIKE CAMPS AND SUMMER SCHOOL TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AGAINST COVID-19.

LIKEWISE IN HIGH-RISK SETTINGS SUCH AS LARGE VENUES THAT BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER INDOORS, THEY'LL BE ONGOING SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND WHILE JUNE FIRST IS OUR FIRST GOAL IF WE KEEP WORKING AND CAN GET TO AT LEAST 2/3 OF NORTH CAROLINIAN ADULTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

AND WE KEEP OUR CURRENT TREND, STABLE.

WE COULD BE ABLE TO GO EVEN FURTHER AND LIFT THE MASK MANDATE AND LIGHTEN OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATION.

BUT WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.

HALF OF NORTH CARE LINEA DE ALTER STILL COMPLETELY UNVACCINATED PUTTING THEM AT HIGHER RISK OF CONTRACTING AND SPREADING THE VIRUS.

TO HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF HAVING AT LEAST 2/3 OF ADULTS WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

WE'RE LAUNCHING A BRINGING SOME ARE BACK GET OUT THE VACCINE CAMPAIGN.

THE CAMPAIGN CREATES A SPACE FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DO THEIR PART TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

IT WILL RUN DURING 2 WEEKS IN MAY AND 2 WEEKS IN JUNE DURING WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE WILL RALLY TOGETHER TO PROMOTE VACCINATION.

THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS FOR GROUPS TO GET INVOLVED INCLUDING ORGANIZING VOLUNTEER DAYS HANDING OUT RESOURCES AND HELPING TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS.

THERE ARE WAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HELP TO SO GO TO: YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov TO LEARN MORE.

IF WE CAN GET TO AT LEAST 2/3 OF NORTH CAROLINA'S ADULTS VACCINATED WE CAN GET BACK TO THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES WE ALL LOVE LIKE BACKYARD GATHERINGS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS PUBLIC FIREWORKS OUTDOOR FESTIVALS OR PARADES ALL WITHOUT WEARING MASKS OUTSIDE.

I KNOW MY DAUGHTERS ONE SUMMER BACK AND SO DO I.

HOWEVER UNTIL AN US VERSUS ENOUGH OF US ARE PROTECTED BY THE VACCINE.

WE NEED TO KEEP PROTECTING EACH OTHER.

I WANT TO SHARE OUR NEW VIDEO REMINDING US THAT WE AREN'T DONE JUST YET.

>> IN EVERY NORTH CAROLINIAN DOING THE WORK TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU PUT ON A MASK TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND PROTECT THOSE AROUND YOU.

>> IT FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

YOU LENT A HELPING HAND AND NEIGHBOR IN NEED.

LET'S KEEP IT UP BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DONE JUST YET.

UNTIL ENOUGH OF US ARE PROTECTED BY THE VACCINE.

>> WE NEED TO KEEP PROTECTING EACH OTHER.

>> FOR NOW KEEP WEARING YOUR MASK IN PUBLIC.

SO WE KEEP OUR TRENDS WHERE WE WANT THEM.

THAT ALSO MEANS GETTING TESTED FOR COVID-19 ANYONE WITH SYMPTOMS FEVER OR COUGH.

EVEN IF YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED SHOULD GET A TEST.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR SHOT YET AND HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID YOU NEED A TEST.

WE ARE AT AN EXCITING MOMENT.

WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE FOR EVERYONE SUPPLY IS STRONG AND STABLE IT'S WIDELY AVAILABLE AND IN MOST PLACES YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT OR HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU ARE 16 AND OLDER AND IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN THE MORE THAN 3.6 MILLION NORTH CAROLINIANS WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THEIR FIRST SHOT.

IT'S UP TO YOU TO GET US TO THAT 2/3 GOAL AND BEYOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE CAN LIVE WITH THIS VIRUS AND BEGIN TO PUT THIS PANDEMIC BEHIND US.

YOU HAVE A SPOT.

TAKE YOUR SHOT.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU DOCTOR.

COHEN ALSO WITH ME TODAY IS OUR SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ERIC HOOKS AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MIKE SPRAYBERRY OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS ARE MONICA MCGHEE MARK LINEBERGER.

AND JACKIE METIVER AND ERICA COOGLER OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.

WE'LL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ORGANIZATION WE'D APPRECIATE IT AND WE'LL TAKE THE 1ST QUARTER.

>> OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM ASHLEY TALLEY WITH WRAL.

THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY JUNE 1ST.

IS WHEN YOU PLAN TO LIFT AND CAPACITY AND MOST DISTANCING THINGS, BUT NO CHANGES TO THE MASK MANDATE AT THAT POINT CORRECT AND.

IS THERE A TARGET DATE WHEN THAT COULD BE LISTEN.

>> SO FIRST.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE THROUGH MAY.

>> AND WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF MASK MANDATE THAT IS NEXT WEEK.

AFTER JUNE 1ST.

WE HOPE THAT THAT MASK MANDATE WOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED FOR PEOPLE IN PUBLIC PLACES.

INDOORS IS WHAT WE AIM FOR.

AND DOCTOR COHEN'S TALKING ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO 2/3 OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WITH THAT NEED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

THEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO LIFT ALL MASK MANDATES AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

REALIZING THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE A VIRUS AND ITS VARIANTS ARE STILL STRONG.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED PEOPLE WE'RE FINDING THESE VACCINATIONS TO BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING THIS VIRUS AND REALLY KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL AND DYING.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

UNTIL THEN WE'VE GOT TO STILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE.

WOULD YOU WANT TO AMPLIFY THAT ANY OKAY GREAT THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> FOLLOW-UP ASHLEY TALLEY WRAL.

I THINK YOU JUST MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS LOOKING WERE WE TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

I JUST HAD A QUICK FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ABOUT 2 PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE HAS TO HELP THE UNEMPLOYED AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED, WE'RE STILL GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT AND PEOPLE NOT GETTING CHECKED AND ALSO THAT THE HOPE OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT'S 500 MILLION DOLLARS IN THERE.

WHY HAVEN'T APPLICATION OPENED UP IN THERE AND HOW DO YOU THINK UNEMPLOYMENT IS IMPROVING.

>> WELL FOR ONE, WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE GET THIS MONEY TO FAMILIES SO THAT THEY CAN PAY THE RENT PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND SURVIVE UNTIL THEY CAN GET A JOB.

WE WE PROVIDED 11.2 BILLION DOLLARS TO ALMOST A MILLION NORTH CAROLINIANS.

WE KNOW THAT THE APPEALS PROCESS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT BECAUSE OF THAT THE STATE HAS TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HANDLING APPEALS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC THERE BEEN ABOUT 90,000 APPEALS SO FAR DURING THE PANDEMIC ABOUT 69% OF THOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN HANDLED AND THERE WERE WORKING REALLY HARD TO TRY TO HANDLE THE REST OF THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

FOR THE HOPE PROGRAM WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR RENT IS PAID AND THAT THE LIGHTS ARE KEPT ON THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE HOPE PROGRAM IS THAT THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO LANDLORDS AND DIRECTLY TO UTILITIES AND ONCE AN AGREEMENT IS SIGNED UTILITIES CAN'T BE TURNED OFF AND PEOPLE CAN'T BE EVICTED.

CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE LAW BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE HOPE PROGRAM IN CORE WERE WHICH IS HANDLING THE NORTH OR NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE HAS BEEN WORKING TO PUT THE PROGRAM BACK IN PLACE WITH THE NEW CHANGES OF THE LEGISLATURE.

ALSO WITH THIS NEW MONEY.

THERE ARE NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH.

SO THEY HOPE THAT APPLICATIONS CAN REOPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET HELP TO PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAWN VAUGHN WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

>> HI, DAWN VAUGHN WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

A QUESTION FOR EACH OF YOU >> AND IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SAW THE VICE PRESIDENT ON MONDAY DID YOU TALK ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE ROLE IN HER ADMINISTRATION WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ONE.

AND DOCTOR KHAN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT MASK MANDATE IF THIS IS THE LESS SAID IS THAT GOING TO BE JUST OUTDOORS ON ON JUNE 1ST OF THE 2/3.

>> WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN UNDER 16 WHO AREN'T VACCINATED WILL THAT BE A FACTOR WITH AT SCHOOL.

>> THE VICE PRESIDENT AND I TALKED MOSTLY ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THE RESPONSE AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW WELL NORTH CAROLINA HAD DONE AND I APPRECIATED WHAT THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION THAT DONE TO GIVE US A STEADY STRONG SUPPLY VACCINES TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED WE ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE NEW JOBS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR STATE AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE NEED POST-SECONDARY THEY NEED TO EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE MET AT GREENSBURG TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WE TALKED ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY BECAUSE WE WENT OVER THOMAS BUILT BUSES WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING.

ELECTRIC BUSES THAT A LOT OF OUR CITIES ARE USING IN THAT SCHOOL BUSES WILL BE USED WITH ELECTRIC BUSES AND WE KNOW THIS CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY IS GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT OF JOBS TO OUR STATE WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE TALKED ABOUT I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN ANSWER HER QUESTION.

>> HI DON JUST TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS ON THE TIMELINE SO I THINK OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO GET TO JUNE 1ST WITH OUR TRENDS CONTINUING TO BE STABLE AND OUR VACCINATION RATES INCREASING IF WE GET TO JUNE 1ST AND THOSE 2 THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE CAN LIFT MOST OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER RELATED RESTRICTIONS AS THE GOVERNOR SAID WE WOULD KEEP A MASK MANDATE AS WE MOVED INTO JUNE AS WE STILL WORK TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF GETTING IT AT LEAST 2/3 OF ADULTS HAVING AT LEAST ONE VACCINE.

SO WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT REACHING THAT GOAL WILL TAKE US LONGER INTO JUNE, BUT I WOULD SAY THIS IS WHERE NORTH CAROLINIANS REALLY NEED TO ROLL UP THEIR SURREY SLEEVES LITERALLY AND HELP US GET TO THAT GOAL AND ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO GET TO THAT GOAL WE CAN FURTHER EASE MASK MANDATES AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.

I WILL SAY AS YOU MENTION IN YOUR QUESTION THAT THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 AS YOU KNOW ARE NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW THEY ARE.

IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THEM TO GET VACCINATED AND SO IN SETTINGS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON CHILDREN, WE KNOW WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE ONGOING SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE SETTINGS AS WELL AS IN THOSE HIGHEST RISK SETTINGS PLACES LIKE LARGE VENUES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

MANY TIMES THAT CAN BE PLACES WHERE THIS VIRUS SPREADS MORE EASILY THOSE WILL ALSO NEED TO HAVE SOME ONGOING SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A SAYS LAYOUT THIS PLAN AS WE MOVE FROM SPRING INTO SUMMER AS WE KEEP VACCINATING NOW WE CONTINUE TO USE THAT DIMMER SWITCH APPROACH WE CAN CONTINUE TO LIGHTEN THESE RESTRICTIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US THAT'S WHY WE'RE LAUNCHING THE BRING BACK SUMMER CAMPAIGN AND THAT GET OUT THE VACCINE EFFORT WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> THE FOLLOW-UP DAWN VAUGHAN NEWS AND OBSERVER >> THANKS FOR THE FOLLOW-UP.

GOVERNOR, AFTER ALL WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER IF YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN A ROLE IN ANY FUTURE OR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WITH BIDEN OR HARRIS.

>> AND DOCTOR COHEN DO YOU STILL THINK THAT CHILDREN SHOULD WEAR A MASK ON WHEN THE RECOMMENDED FOR ADULTS.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SERVING AS GOVERNOR FOR THE NEXT 3 AND A HALF PLUS YEARS AND MAKING SURE WE DO A GOOD JOB GETTING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC DOCTOR COHEN.

>> WE DO ANTICIPATE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS REMAIN SAFE BE UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES SO WE DO ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN SETTINGS WHERE IT IS FOCUSED ON CHILDREN LIKE SCHOOLS LIKE CAMPS AND SO WE DO EXPECT MASS TO BE A POP PORTION OF THOSE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION PLACE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM BRIAN ANDERSON WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

>> HI GOVERNOR AND DR. COHEN, THANKS FOR THE TIME THE QUESTION GOVERNOR I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU JUST ON JUVENILE JUSTICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.

YOU KNOW THE KIDS AS YOUNG AS 6 CAN HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT.

THERE'S CURRENTLY A BILL THAT WOULD RAISE THAT AGE TO 10.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT PROPOSAL AND WOULD YOU RATHER SEE IT RAISED TO 12 OR AN OLDER AGE?

>> YOUNG TO HAVE KIDS THAT YOUNG IN COURT.

WE NEED TO RAISE THE AGE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT.

IT IS CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DOING THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO TO HELP TURN KIDS AROUND THAT ARE IN TROUBLE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM ON MAKING SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> I BOUGHT A LOT BRIAN ANDERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS.

>> AND JUST FOLLOWING UP IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT RATE EVEN HIGHER TO 12 YEARS OLD.

BUT ALSO JUST A LOGISTICAL QUESTION FOR YOU WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO IN PERSON.

NEWS CONFERENCES AND ARE YOU SWITCHING THEM FROM WEEKLY BIWEEKLY.

>> WELL FIRST ON THE AGE I WILL WORK WITH THE GENERAL SAID AN ASSEMBLY AND TALK TO JUVENILE JUSTICE EXPERTS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE RIGHT AGE IS YOU KNOW I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO IN PERSON PRESS CONFERENCES SOON WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT LISTEN I LIFTING MOST OF THE CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

GROUP WORK REQUIREMENTS BY THE END OF MAY AND IN INTO THE FIRST OF JUNE.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT SAID.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM RICHARD CRAVER WAS THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL >> YES GOVERNOR THIS IS RICHARD CRAVER WITH WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL I WOULD JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE IN HOW YOU VIEW SOME OF THE REOPENING BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

RIGHT NOW ONE OF WHICH.

CONTINUES TO REQUIRE WOULD REQUIRE COUNCIL STATE APPROVAL FOR ANY EMERGENCY ORDER AND I WANT TO SEE IF WHAT STEPS YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE NOW WHAT MAKE THOSE BILLS MOOT OR YOU THOUGHT THERE STILL NEED JUST TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES.

>> I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS THAT WERE RELEASED BY THE CDC AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOWING THAT PER CAPITA NORTH CAROLINA IS AMONG THE STATES WITH FEWEST DEATHS AND FEWEST JOB LOSSES.

IT SHOWS THAT BOTH WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AND OUR ECONOMY.

I THINK WE'VE DONE THIS RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED THAT KIND OF LEGISLATION AFTER THIS PANDEMIC IS OVER I'M GLAD TO TALK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT.

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE POWERS AND TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS BUT I THINK IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WE NEED TO STAY THE COURSE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT TURNED THE CORNER WORK TOGETHER AND GET OUT OF THIS THING WHICH I BELIEVE WE'RE HEADED TOWARD DOING.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> IN OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM LAURA LEE WITH CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON GOVERNOR.

LAURA LESLIE FROM CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS.

WE'RE SEEING HOSPITALIZATION INCH UP OVER THE LAST WEEK WITH OTHER SIGNS THAT CASES ARE SLIGHTLY INCHING UP, PLATEAUING.

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HAD A WALL IN TERMS OF VACCINE, RESISTANCE MEANING THOSE WHO WANT TO RECEIVE THAT HAVE AND THAT THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE AN HOUR NOT SUBSEQUENTLY GOING TO.

>> WELL FIRST WE WANT EVERYBODY TO GET VACCINATED THAT IS YOU KNOW EVERYBODY WHO'S ELIGIBLE.

THAT'S REALLY THE WAY WE CAN TURN THE CORNER.

AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF SUPPLY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT WELL IT'S TOO HARD TO GET A SHOT AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE NOW THAT HEY YOU CAN WALK IN AND YOU CAN MAKE THE SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS.

SOME PEOPLE WE NEED TO BRING THE VACCINE TO THEM THEIR HOMEBOUND PEOPLE.

THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT MADE THIS A PRIORITY IN THEIR LIFE BUT IF SOMEBODY NUDGES THEM, THEY WOULD GO AHEAD AND GET THE VACCINE.

SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL GET THIS VACCINE.

WE JUST GOT TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DO IT AND GET IT DONE.

YEAH, WE HAVE SEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS INCH UP THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY STABLE THERE'S A LOT OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

ONE GOOD THING IS THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THIS MOST VULNERABLE GROUP WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF VACCINATIONS MORE THAN 77% OF 65 AND OVER HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATION CONSEQUENTLY.

YOU SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE.

IN DEATHS.

SO YOU KNOW WE WE REMAIN CONCERNED WE REMAIN VIGILANT.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING TOWARD THIS VACCINATION GOAL AND TACKLE ANY KIND OF HESITANCY AT ALL.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> FOLLOW-UP LAURA LEE CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'RE STILL SEEING SOME LAG IN PARTICULAR IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, I BELIEVE.

DEPENDING ON IF YOU'RE COUNTING FULLY VACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED SOMETHING AROUND 5 OR 6%.

BUT RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL POPULATION OF ABOUT HALF.

OF OF WHERE IT SHOULD BE WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS THAT IN PARTICULAR FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> FROM THE VERY BEGINNING VACCINE EQUITY HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO US.

WE'VE WANTED TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WE WANT THOSE ARMS TO LOOK LIKE NORTH CAROLINA.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN CITED AS ONE OF THE BEST IF NOT THE BEST IN TRANSPARENCY DATA TO SO THAT WE CAN SEE OUR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.

YOU CAN'T TACKLE A PROBLEM UNLESS YOU CAN SEE IT AND OUR DATA ALLOWS US TO SEE IT.

WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP IT IS A CHALLENGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE CAN SEE IT BETTER THAN MOST STATES AND WE ARE WORKING HARDER AT IT.

AND I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN TELL YOU ABOUT A FEW OF THE THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE WE TACKLE THAT PROBLEM.

>> HI LAURA WELL FIRST I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO OUR VACCINATING PROVIDERS AND MANY MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO ACTUALLY DOUBLE THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS IN OUR LATIN X HISPANIC POPULATION.

SO IT'S BEEN A TEAM EFFORT AND AGAIN IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE PARTNERING WITH FOLKS ON THE GROUND TO TRUSTED PARTNERS IN THE LATIN X COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S A FAITH COMMUNITY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK IMPORTANTLY ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD FOLKS AT VACCINE SITES.

THAT ARE ABLE TO DO TRANSLATION SERVICES OR TO WALK THAT FOLKS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I WANT TO PARTICULARLY CALL OUT OUR.

OUR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE RUNNING THE FEMA SITE IN GREENSBORO WHO HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB OF CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR A LATIN X HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WERE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THERE.

AROUND THE CLOCK WHO ARE REALLY HELPING TO BRING FOLKS IN MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE DO ANY TRANSLATION WALK THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND I THINK THAT HAS REALLY GOTTEN OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS AT THAT SITE IN GREENSBORO RIGHT NOW THAT THEY'RE TAKING WALK INS THAT TAKING SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS.

SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THE VACCINE IS FREE YOU DO NOT NEED TO SHOW ID TO GET VACCINATED WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR DATA IS SAFE WITH US SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THANKS.

>> NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> I'M NEXT QUESTION IS DAREK DELLINGER WITH FOX 46.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.

DAREK DELLINGER FOX 46.

HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE IN CHARLOTTE CITY ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT PLATEAU ON VACCINATIONS AND SO IT IS FAIR TO ASK ME THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS KIND OF REPRESENTS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN YOURSELVES AND SOME OF THESE COMMENTS DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE 2/3 OF PEOPLE BY JUNE FIRST VACCINATED IF NOT ARE THERE ANY PROJECTIONS OF HOW THAT'S LOOKING LIKE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE PEOPLES.

>> FIRST I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN COMMENT ON THAT I THINK THAT.

2/3 IS GOING TO BE HARD BY THAT PARTICULAR DATE.

BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THERE AND WE BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL OF THESE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING AND WHAT NORTH CAROLINIANS PULLING TOGETHER IN DOING THEIR PART PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO'VE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED DON'T LET THAT BE THE END FOR YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR CO-WORKERS YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

BUT I'LL LET DOCTOR COHEN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 2/3 GOAL.

>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION ONE I COULD SAY WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT ALL OF THE STOPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EASY FOR ANYONE TO GET A VACCINE WHO WANTS IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLOSE TO HOME THAT YOU CAN DO SAME DAY WALK INS THAT WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

BUT AS THE GOVERNOR SAID THEN IT BECOMES REALLY ABOUT NORTH CAROLINIANS LITERALLY ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DOING THEIR PART THAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE THAT THE THAT FINAL ARBITER ON HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET TO 2/3.

I WANT TO SEE US GET TO 2/3 AND BEYOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY WE PUT THIS PANDEMIC IN OUR REARVIEW MIRROR AND WE ALL WANT TO BRING BACK SUMMER IT'S WHY WE'RE LAUNCHING THE BRING BACK SUMMER CAMPAIGN.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE WORK TO GET FOLKS VACCINATED WE KNEW THAT WE'D REACHED THIS POINT WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPLY WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE THAT THEY'RE SAFE AND THAT FOLKS CAN CAN GET THEM VERY EASILY VERY CLOSE TO THEIR HOME.

THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> FOLLOW UP THEIR DEANDRE THOUGHT 46.

>> ARE THERE ANY TARGET AREAS THAT YOU GUYS ARE ARE BASICALLY TARGETING RIGHT NOW AS THE SUN PARTS OF THE STATE IS WHAT IS TO COME OUT AND THE PIEDMONT IS IT COAST IS IT A STATEWIDE THINK THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO GET 2/3 WHERE ARE WHERE YOU SEE THAT HAS A FEW STILL I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION.

>> WELL THERE THANKS FOR THAT I WOULD SAY WE ARE FOCUSING ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT WE ARE USING OUR DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE WE'RE SEEING LOWER RATES OF VACCINATION I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE DATA DOWN TO THE CENSUS TRACK LEVEL TO HELP US IDENTIFY WHERE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE'RE SEEING LOWER RATES OF VACCINATION AND WE MAY NEED MORE VACCINE PROVIDERS WERE REACHING OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINES GOING TO THAT AREA.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A NATURAL PARTNER THERE THAN WE BRING IN OUTSIDE VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE ACCESS POINTS FOR FOLKS SO WE VERY MUCH ARE USING OUR DATA BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT VACCINE IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE.

WE WANT EVERYONE ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA TO KNOW THAT AND TO GO TODAY TO GET THEIR VACCINE, SAFE EFFECTIVE AND IT'S FREE THANKS.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SHARON VAN ZWIETENWITH SPECTRUM NEWS.

>> HI GOVERNOR, SHARON VAN ZWIETEN, SPECTRUM NEWS.

FOLLOWING PFIZER'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ITS VACCINE IS 100% EFFECTIVE FOR KIDS FROM AGE 12 TO 15.

IF THE FDA WERE TO APPROVE IT AND SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE.

WILL YOU THINK YOU WILL REQUIRE SCHOOL AGE KIDS TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> THAT'S A HEALTH OFFICIAL QUESTIONS.

LET DOCTOR COHEN ADDRESS THAT.

>> HI SHARON.

WELL WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY AN APPROVAL FROM THE FDA TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE IN THOSE THAT ARE 12 AND UP WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO PLAN FOR OUR LOGISTICS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET PFIZER PARTICULARLY TO OUR PDH PEDIATRICIANS AND SO THAT THEY CAN BE VACCINATING FOLKS I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS AS ALL ALL THE VACCINES ARE AT THE MOMENT THEY'RE IN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION STATUS I THINK THAT IS A PARTICULAR WAY THAT THE FDA HAS YOU SO THAT THEY WE'VE GOTTEN VACCINE OUT QUICKLY TO EVERYONE AND THAT'S BEEN GREAT.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HALF OF ADULTS VACCINATED IS INCREDIBLE TO WHY WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS LIKE WE ARE TODAY TO SAY AND ON JUNE 1ST.

WE DID WE CAN ANTICIPATE LIFTING RESTRICTIONS SO IT'S AMAZING WE'RE IN THIS PLACE BUT REMEMBER THOSE VACCINES ARE IN EMERGENCY -- EMERGENCY USE STATUS.

AND SO WHILE THEY'RE IN THAT STATUS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S ANTICIPATING THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED AT THIS POINT, THANKS.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> FOLLOW UP, SHARON VAN ZWIETEN SPECTRUM NEWS.

>> THIS ONE WILL BE FOR DOCTOR COHEN PROBABLY.

WHERE IS THE STATE WITH RESPECT TO THE J AND J VACCINE AND WHAT YOU THINK'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

>> THANKS SHARON REMIND FOLKS THAT CURRENTLY WE ARE PAUSED IN OUR ADMINISTRATION OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON.

I THINK WHAT THAT SHOWS IS THAT WE HAVE PICKED UP A FEW VERY RARE CASES OF A BLOOD CLOT IT WAS LITERALLY A ONE IN A MILLION CASE AND IT SHOWS THAT OUR SAFETY SYSTEM IS WORKING IT CAN PICK UP THESE VERY VERY RARE OCCASIONS WHERE THERE IS AN ADVERSE OUTCOME.

AND SO I THINK WHAT THAT TELLS US IS PARTICULARLY FOR THE MODERNA AND THE PFIZER VACCINE WHICH IS THE VAST VAST VAST MAJORITY OF THE VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IS THAT WE'RE SEEING SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND THOSE VACCINES.

WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS WE HAVE PIVOTED OR ARE JOHNSON JOHNSON PROVIDERS BACK TO THE MODERNA AND PFIZER AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO VACCINATE IN A HIGH RATE, SO WE'LL CONTINUE IN THAT IN THAT UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THE CDC AND FDA ABOUT FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS COMING REGARDING THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, SO WE ARE PAUSED THE SAFETY SYSTEM IS WORKING AND WE ARE AWAITING FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

>> A FINAL QUESTION TODAY WILL BE FROM JONAH KAPLAN WITH ABC 11.

>> WHAT AN HONOR THANKS VERY MUCH GOOD AFTERNOON JOHN CAPLAN FROM ABC 11.

DOCTOR COHEN, I GUESS A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, THANK GOD, WE KNOW A YEAR LATER THE VIRUS DOESN'T REALLY TRANSMIT AS MUCH OUTSIDE.

WE ALSO KNOW THE VIRUS DOESN'T REALLY TRANSMIT AS MUCH BETWEEN CHILDREN IF ALL OF IT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOU KNOW OUR OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION IS VACCINATED IF FOR ANY FOR 2/3 OF ADULTS TO BE VACCINATED WHY WOULD CHILDREN THEN HAVE TO WEAR MASKS AT CAMP OUTSIDE.

>> JONAH THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK WE WANT TO REMEMBER THAT THAT IT IS STILL ALL THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 THAT CAN NOT GET THIS VACCINE AT THIS POINT I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS WE'RE EVER WE WERE SAYING IN THE EARLIER QUESTIONS THAT WILL SOON BE ABLE TO VACCINATE THOSE THAT ARE 12 AND UP BUT CURRENTLY.

OR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MOST OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS STILL ARE NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINATED AT THIS POINT AND SO THAT IS WHY WE WOULD ANTICIPATE WANTING TO CONTINUE WITH SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN THOSE SETTINGS.

BUT I THINK THIS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SHARING 2 DAYS WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION VACCINES ARE WAY OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC WE'RE MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO SAY AS OF JUNE FIRST WE BELIEVE WE CAN LIFT A LOT OF THOSE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS MASKS ARE STILL GOING TO BE IMPORTANT EVEN AS WE VACCINATE MORE AND MORE PUT FOLKS BUT THAT'S WHAT I SAID WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING FURTHER AS WE GET TOWARDS ARE BACK SINGLES.

JONAH, YOU HAD A FOLLOW-UP?

>> I DO THANK YOU.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT YOU KNOW VACCINE HESITANCY AND THE WORRY ABOUT MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

I WANT TO KIND OF SWITCH IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND ASKED ABOUT MISINFORMATION AND I REALIZE THAT PUTTING IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BUT ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE AND WHERE WE ARE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL NERVOUS WITH THE VACCINE GO TO A RESTAURANT.

GO BASICALLY ANYWHERE THAT THEY HAVEN'T GONE BEFORE.

AND THERE'S A POLL OUT THAT SHOWED MANY PEOPLE WAY OVERESTIMATING THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION THINKING THAT IT'S 20 OR 30 OR 40% OF PEOPLE WITH COVID GO TO THE HOSPITAL BUT REALLY ONLY ONE TO 5%.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT FEAR AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KIND OF LOWER THE STRESS LEVEL PEOPLE UNRECOGNIZED YOU KNOW THE VACCINE IS THERE FOR A PURPOSE YOU CAN GO BACK TO LIVING.

>> WELL GOOD THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

I I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING VACCINATED YOU'RE PROTECTING YOURSELF AND THAT IS REALLY GOOD BUT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THESE VACCINES ARE SAFE AND INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE 2 DOSE REGIMENS ARE EITHER PFIZER OR MODERNA WE'RE SEEING 90% EFFECTIVENESS WHICH I WILL TELL YOU IS BETTER THAN I THOUGHT THESE VACCINES COULD COULD DO.

SO IT'S REALLY REALLY GOOD PROTECTION.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE WANT TO NOT JUST PROTECT INDIVIDUALS.

WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR WHOLE STATE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROTECTING YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SO YOU CAN FEEL CONFIDENT GOING OUT TO GO TO YOUR YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANT OR GO BACK TO SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN PLACES THAT YOU LOVE AND THAT'S WHY SETTING THIS TARGET FOR OUR STATE OF AT LEAST 2/3 OF ADULTS THAT IS WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ENOUGH IMMUNITY IN ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THE VIRUS AT BAY AND WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF THAT PROTECTION AND SO WE'RE HOPEFUL WITH A SHARING THAT GOAL SHARING THESE MESSAGES THAT FOLKS CAN FEEL MORE CONFIDENT AS WE GO FORWARD, BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO GET THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO BRING BACK SOME OR WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO GET OUT THAT THOSE VACCINES MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN GET VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THANKS JONAH.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.