GREENSBORO, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper and the state COVID-19 task force gave an update on coronavirus in North Carolina at 2 p.m. The governor also spoke about the ice storm and the state of emergency.
Gov. Cooper discussed the progress North Carolina has seen in recent weeks concerning the coronavirus.
"For the first time since November, the number of people hospitalized by COVID-19 has dropped below 2,000," the governor said.
Those numbers have led to the reopening of school systems across North Carolina.
"By mid-march, 95% of our school districts plan to provide in-person instruction," Gov. Cooper said.
The governor issued the state of emergency Wednesday amid statewide ice storms forecasted for Thursday, similar to what North Carolina experienced on Saturday, Feb 13. The weekend's event severely hampered the Triad, with WFMY News 2 meteorologists calling it "the worst ice event in the Triad in half a decade."
The state of emergency and allows for transportation waivers permitting utility companies to bring repair crews from out of state and get faster access to communities that have lost power. The Governor also authorized the activation of 40 National Guard personnel to support fallen tree and debris removal.
"This forecast for icy weather is a real threat for widespread power outages,” Cooper said. "People need to be ready to stay home and be prepared to lose power for a while, especially in the northern, western and Piedmont counties."
As of 1:35 p.m., Gov. Cooper said, 23,000 were without power in North Carolina. Effects of today’s ice storm were being felt most significantly in northern and western counties, officials said. These were largely due to ice accumulation bringing down trees and power lines. Extra utility crews are at work to restore power as quickly as possible.
With periods of moderate to heavy rainfall expected Thursday afternoon and evening, the threat for flash flooding will increase within the eastern half of North Carolina currently under a Flash Flood Watch. River levels will continue to rise, with two locations expected to reach Major Flood Stage – the Tar River at Greenville and the Lumber River at Lumberton.
Gov. Cooper will also be joined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Safety coronavirus task force to debrief on the state's response to COVID-19 and provide the latest updates on North Carolina's vaccine distribution efforts.
Vaccine deliveries have been delayed across the state due to this week's severe weather. Clinics were already behind schedule due to the demand for the vaccine outpacing the supply. The weather puts further pressure on vaccination clinics to make up for lost time. The state plans to open the vaccines to front-line essential workers on Feb. 24, but issues with vaccinating the current 65 and older group persist, leading to the possibility of delays.
NCDHHS is in communication with the CDC and providers to give as much information as possible about when new shipments will arrive so appointments can be rescheduled.
As of today, North Carolina has administered almost two million doses of vaccine. The state continues to make progress in equity of vaccine distribution. Last week, 23% of doses were administered to black North Carolinians, up from just 13% five weeks ago, state officials said.
The governor thanked first responders, emergency managers, law enforcement, utility workers and others across the state who are working on storm response.
“They have worked tirelessly to help get people to safety and already have begun repairing the damage,” said Gov. Cooper. “I am grateful for their resilience.”
You can watch the press conference in this story or on WFMY News 2's Facebook page.
