RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the state "will be ready" to open COVID-19 vaccinations to everyone wanting the shot by President Joe Biden's goal of May 1.
“North Carolina will be ready to meet this challenge,” Cooper said during a Wednesday task force briefing. It was the first day that people with high-risk health conditions and more essential workers were able to sign up for their shots as part of Group 4.
3.4 million doses have gone into arms across the state, and 25% of North Carolinians ages 18 and older have begun the vaccine process, state officials said. North Carolina is also being recognized as a top ten state by the CDC for vaccine distribution and equity.
State health officials say we’re now seeing a direct correlation between a decrease in key metrics and an increase in vaccine distribution and recoveries.
NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said North Carolina's key metrics are getting better, but state officials are remaining cautious about new COVID-19 variants that could spread easier and make people feel sicker.
Cohen said the number of people going to the hospital with COVID-like symptoms is going down, and so is the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive.
Cohen is keeping an eye on the trajectory of cases and hospitalizations. She said these two metrics are getting better but still remain high.
Cooper said he may lift more restrictions during the next executive order, but didn't give a specific date on when that could happen. He said state officials will continue to monitor COVID-19 data.