‘Testing, testing, testing.’ Gov. Cooper reiterates need as NC eases coronavirus restrictions.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday reiterated the need for more testing and for people to follow safety measures as the state moves into Phase One of relaxing restrictions amid the coronavirus.
The reopening of many businesses comes as a way to reignite the economy while continuing to protect residents, Cooper said. But he said he knows the state has to have more testing.
“Testing, testing, testing is a priority for North Carolina,” Cooper said.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Sec. Dr. Mandy Cohen said anyone who needs a test should be getting tested right now. More testing sites are being added across the state this month.
Unlike Georgia, which offers testing for anyone regardless of symptoms, North Carolinians can be referred for a test when they have symptoms like cough and fever.
She said there was a period of time when supply chain limitations meant stricter criteria to get a test, but that’s no longer the case.
“We also want anyone who’s been exposed to COVID-19 to have a test,” she said. “Anyone who needs a test in North Carolina can get a test right now,” Cohen said.
Cohen also said the state needs to see more testing as the state moves into Phase One of Cooper’s three-phase plan to reopen businesses and schools.
“While I think we’re on the right track, I’m not at all satisfied where we are. The governor and I want to see more testing across the state, particularly in our more underserved communities,” she said.
She also said, however, that the state is hitting its testing goals, one of the measures Cooper is using in his plan to ease restrictions.
“We need laser focus on our testing, tracing and trends. When we outlined the path forward to ease restrictions back in April, we said we wanted to double our day over day testing from about 2,500 to 3,000 tests per day, to 5,000 to 7,000 tests per day,” she said. “And we’ve hit our goal. Seven of the last 10 days we’re testing close to 6,000 people per day on average. We ranked 15th in the nation in the number of total tests completed.”
Learning about the coronavirus
As of Friday morning, there were more than 14,000 cases and more than 500 deaths in North Carolina from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Cooper started his news conference Friday by naming some of the people who have died from the disease.
Those stories included Sypraseuth Phouangphrachanh, also known as Officer Bud, a resource officer in Montgomery County; and Alexander Reginald Pettiway, a Durham County detention officer.
“But what we’ve learned in their deaths and from research is how to limit the spread of the virus. And I urge everyone to do what we know works, and to stay vigilant,” Cooper said.
Even though the state is entering Phase One of easing restrictions, Cooper said, it is “still better to stay home.”
Any place where people sit or stand still for more than 10 minutes, especially indoors, greatly increases the risk of spread, he said.
“Phase One is a careful, modest step to reigniting our economy,” Cooper said.
More than 1 million unemployment claims
Cooper was asked by a reporter about the length of time it is taking for unemployment applications to be approved and the reason some applicants are receiving error messages when they do try to apply.
Cooper said the North Carolina Division of Employment Security Commission has expanded its staff to more than 1,000 workers, and has added an online chat function. It has also expanded hours into the weekend and evening, he said.
“This is a high priority of our administration and more and more people will continue to start receiving these unemployment benefits,” Cooper said. “This is important not only to those families but to the economy.”
But he also asked people to be mindful. According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, since March 15, more than 907,000 North Carolinians have filed for unemployment benefits due to COVID-19.
Roughly half, 470,000, have received those benefits. The state has also had 177,743 unemployment claims not related to the coronavirus.
“Remember we are talking about an office that had handled about 12,000 claims a month, and now, in a period of two months, they have over a million claims,” Cooper said.
Easing coronavirus restrictions this weekend
Phase One of the governor’s reopening plan starts this weekend. While the stay-at-home order remains in place until at least May 22, several restrictions are lifted as of 5 p.m. Friday
That includes most retail businesses being able to reopen at 50% customer capacity, and there will no longer be a designation of essential and non-essential businesses. However, personal care businesses like barber shops and hair salons are still closed under Phase One.
Restaurants will still be prohibited from offering dine-in service. Gyms remain closed under Phase One. Cohen said gyms are a higher risk activity because of things like sweating, even though social distancing is possible.
North Carolina is lifting restrictions sooner than its neighboring Virginia, but not as fast as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
South Carolina reopened outside on-site restaurant service this week. Georgia lifted personal care business restrictions in late April.
Cohen asked North Carolinians to follow “the three Ws” of washing your hands frequently, waiting at least six feet apart from other people and wearing masks that cover your nose and mouth when you are out in public.
Cooper showed a mask he said he wears and noted that masks protect the people around you. While face coverings are “highly, highly encouraged,” they are not required, Cohen said. She called it an act of kindness to your fellow neighbors.
Gatherings are still limited to 10 people or fewer, in outdoor setting with social distancing and masks, under Phase One.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, and both Cohen and Cooper wished everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. Cohen encouraged people to follow “the three Ws” for their moms and grandmas.
Cooper said more people will be outside this weekend because of the holiday and weather.
“We want people to be outdoors but to be socially distant,” he said. “I have confidence in the people of North Carolina to do this the right way.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 2:30 PM.
.jpg)