North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declares state of emergency over coronavirus Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW THAT NEW -- AT NOON INVOLVING THE CORONAVIRUS IN NORTH CAROLINA. SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WAITING FOR THOSE RESULTS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE CDC. BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN CASES, WE ARE AWAITING AN UPDATE FROM GOVERNOR ROY COOPER AND THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE. HE IS EXPECTED TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY. WE’LL BRING YOU THAT LIVE AS SOON AS IT STARTS. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. ACCORDING TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SIX CASES OF CORONAVIRUS ARE IN WAKE COUNTY. THE LATEST INVOLVES FIVE PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED TO BOSTON WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS FOR A BIOGENETICS CONFERENCE. OFFICIALS SAY OTHER CORONAVIRUS CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THIS CONFERENCE. THE NEW CASES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ONE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK IN WAKE COUNTY. THERE IS ALSO A CORONAVIRUS PATIENT IN CHATHAM COUNT IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANY OF THE OTHER CASES. OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THE PATIENTS ARE BEING TREATED AND ARE IN ISOLATION AT HOME. GOVERNOR ROY COOPER AND THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE ARE SPEAKING SHORTLY. WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU AND BRING YOU THE RESULTS OF THAT. HAPPENING NOW, WALL STREET IS RALLYING AFTER ITS BIGGEST ONE-DAY POINT DROP IN HISTORY. HERE’S WHERE THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE IS TRADING NOW. THE DOW SOARED BY ALMOST 800 POINTS AT THE OPENING BELL. INVESTORS LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PROMISED MAJOR STEPS TO SETTLE CONCERNS OVER THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK. THE PRESIDENT IS MEETING WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY’LL DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PAYROLL TAX INCENTIVE THAT COULD PUT MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF WORKERS EFFECTED BY THE VIRUS. IT COMES ON TOP OF THE 8 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PACKAGE APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT TO COMBAT THE VIRUS. NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS IS AMONG FIVE POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO SELF QUARANTINE. HE’S PRESIDENT TRUMP’S INCOMING CHIEF OF STAFF. MEADOWS WAS IN CONTACT WITH A PERSON WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS. IT HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT CPAC, A REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE. MEADOWS SAYS HIS CORONAVIRUS TEST CAME BACK NEGATIVE, BUT HE’S STILL ISOLATING HIMSELF AT HOME MEADOWS WAS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP FRIDAY AFTER THE CONFERENCE. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS. >> YESTERDAY, WE IDENTIFIED FIVE NEW CASES OF COVID-19, THE NEW CORONAVIRUS, HERE IN WAKE COUNTY ALL LINKED TO A BOSTON CONFERENCE LAST MONTH. THAT BRINGS THE STATE TOTAL TO SEVEN PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES. WE EXPECT MORE POSITIVE TEST RESULTS. WE HAVE SUPPLIES TO TEST 300 PEOPLE. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET MORE SUPPLIES AND MORE TESTS TO OUR STATE. PRIVATE LABS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE ALREADY TESTING, AND WE ARE WORKING ON ANOTHER MECHANISM OF TESTING THAT DOES NOT RELY ON THESE SUPPLIES. WE HAVE ANALYZED THE SITUATION USING AVAILABLE DATA AND SCIENCE. WE HAVE DISCUSSED OPTIONS WITH HEALTH EXPERTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HERE AND IN OTHER STATES. THE NEW CASES AND THE ADVICE OF THESE EXPERTS HAVE LED US TO GIVE NEW GUIDANCE TO NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS AND DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY. WHILE WE EXPECT MANY MORE CASES, WE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GET SERIOUSLY ILL. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IS INCREASED FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND AND PREVENT AS WELL AS TO ALLOCATE FUNDS WHERE NEEDED. THE STATE OF EMERGENCY CAN HELP SPEED SUPPLIES AND GIVES HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS MORE BUDGET FLEXIBILITY. IT PROTECTS CONSUMERS FROM PRICE GOUGING. IT ENCOURAGES INSURERS TO MAKE TESTING AVAILABLE FOR LITTLE TO NO COST. IT EXPANDS THE ABILITY TO USE MORE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE WORKING TO RESPOND TO THIS VIRUS. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL SPEAK IN A MOMENT TO OUTLINE TODAY’S NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WORKPLACES AND LARGE GATHERINGS. THIS NEW GUIDANCE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE OLDER THAN 65 AND THOSE WITH A CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION. EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT POPULATION IS MOST HONORABLE, I ASKED ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. ALTHOUGH MOST YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS HAVE EXPERIENCED MILDER SYMPTOMS, THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE. ANYONE CAN CARRY THE VIRUS TO LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS WHO CAN BECOME ILL. PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH MEANS BEING CAUTIOUS AND PREPARED. TODAY, WE ARE BOTH. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN MEAN INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF INCOME, OR DISAPPOINTMENT. THEY ARE BASED ON THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE, AND THEY WILL BE LIFESAVING. WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. WE ALSO WANT THEM TO GO ON LIVING THEIR LIVES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE HIGHER RISK GROUP. WE JUST NEED THEM TO DO IT WISELY. HERE ARE SOME STEPS THAT EVERYONE CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN AND AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE. STAY-AT-HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. HAVE A PLAN IN CASE YOU NEED TO MISS WORK. AVOID MASS TRAVEL AND LARGE GATHERINGS IF YOU ARE IN A HIGH RISK GROUP. HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN GET THE LATEST INFORMATION AT OUR NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS VIRUS. I WANT TO ENSURE YOU THAT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES ARE WORKING HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE. I AM JOINED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE NORTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CHIEF OF STAFF, STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. ELIZABETH TILSON, AND THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR MIKE SPRING BERRY. LEE WILLIAMSON IS OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER TODAY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR. COHEN TO GO OVER THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SIDE. DR. COHEN. DR. COHEN: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. THE ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE ARE SHARING TODAY ARE TO HELP US SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. WE EACH PLAY A ROLE IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND HEALTHY. WE UNDERSTAND THESE ACTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE’S LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. WE ARE MAKING THEM BASED ON CURRENT ACTIONS FROM OTHER STATES AND THE MOST UP-TO-DATE EPIDEMIOLOGY EVIDENCE WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE GROWING OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 IN NORTH CAROLINA WHEN SUCH MEASURES CAN POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY ARE TARGETED AT PROTECTING PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS, WHICH INCLUDES ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 65, THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. HERE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE ARE MAKING STATEWIDE. PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK. THAT MEANS ABOVE THE AGE OF 65 OR WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS SHOULD AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS WITH MANY PEOPLE. THIS INCLUDES CHURCH SERVICES, SPORTING EVENTS, AND CROWDED SOCIAL EVENTS. FACILITIES THAT SERVE AS RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR HIGH RISK PERSONS SHOULD RESTRICT VISITORS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE PLACES LIKE INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, NURSING HOMES, AND FACILITIES THAT CARE FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE CHILDREN. WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALSO STATEWIDE THAT EVENT ORGANIZERS SHOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS SICK NOT TO ATTEND AND ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK, ABOVE 65 OR WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS TO NOT ATTEND THOSE EVENTS. WE ENCOURAGE EVENT ORGANIZERS TO ADOPT LENIENT REFUND POLICIES. FIND WAYS TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE PHYSICAL SPACE TO LIMIT CLOSE PHYSICAL CONTACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. CLEAN SURFACES WITH THE APPROPRIATE CLEANERS. TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM COUNTRIES AND U.S. STATES IMPACTED BY COVID-19, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DHHS GUIDANCE ON SELF-MONITORING. THAT IS OUR GUIDANCE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. WE CONFIRMED FIVE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 IN WAKE COUNTY, INCREASING THAT TOTAL TO SIX IN WAKE COUNTY. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE OF US IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE TRIANGLE SHOULD USE TELEWORKING TECHNOLOGIES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. EMPLOYERS SHOULD URGE EMPLOYEES TO STAY ON WHEN THEY ARE SICK AND MAXIMIZE FLEXIBILITY AND SICKLY BENEFITS. WE ASK EMPLOYERS TO CONSIDER STAGGERING START AND END TIME. WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE THOSE WHO WORK IN RESTAURANTS AND TEACHERS CANNOT TELECOMMUTE. WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT AT THIS TIME. ORGANIZERS OF MASS GATHERINGS FOR EVENTS HERE IN THE TRIANGLE THAT PRIMARILY TARGET OR DRAW HIGH-RISK PERSONS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ATTRACT OLDER ADULTS SHOULD CONSIDER CANCELING OR POSTPONING THOSE EVENTS. I WANT TO ADDRESS SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY. CHILDREN APPEARED TO BE AT LOW RISK OF SERIOUS INFECTION FOR THE VIRUS. THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN WE HAD DURING THE 2000 981 AND 1 -- 2000 9H1N1 PANDEMIC. THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN SOME SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EPIDEMIC. CLOSURE MAY BE RECOMMENDED WHEN THERE IS NEED FOR ANY PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATION OR CLEANING IS REQUIRED. I REMIND US THAT THIS SITUATION IS RAPIDLY CHANGING, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSURES COULD CHANGE AS WE LEARN MORE, BUT TODAY, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY PREEMPTIVE SCHOOL CLOSURE. DECISIONS AROUND SCHOOL CLOSURES ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH SCHOOL LEADERS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD. THE BEST THING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND OUR STATE IS TO BE SURE WE ARE GETTING ACCURATE INFORMATION. I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS BEING SHARED ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA. IT IS HARMFUL. WE ARE UPDATING

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