Statement from NC Governor Roy Cooper on Tuesday afternoon:

“We’ve set out in detail the benchmarks we want to hit as we move toward the phases that will help spur the economy while keeping us safe. I invite you go to http://nc.gov/covid19 and visit the case count dashboard to see how we’re doing in our fight to slow this disease.

“We’re seeing some leveling and hope to see more. We know what helps push down these numbers: social distancing, careful cleaning and staying home. If we keep working at these, we’ll get to where we need to be.

“Last week, I told you about the budget proposal we made to the legislature. Today, the session starts & they'll work on ways to direct federal dollars to help our state. If done right, we can get more testing, increased equipment, unemployment assistance, and other vital help.

“We’re enacting our battle plan. Yesterday, NCDHHS signed a key partnership to advance our efforts to fight COVID-19. The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative brings 2 trusted groups together that have long-standing experience in health care to bring on more contact tracers.

“Contact tracing is critical to our ability to safely ease restrictions. Think of it like detective work helping track down anyone who may have been exposed to a person who tests positive.

“That’s an essential step to containing and isolating those who may carry the disease. The collaborative has already started recruiting for the 250 positions they will need to fill. Time is of the essence, and I appreciate their quick work to stand up this partnership.

“I also want to thank another of our key partners today for their work – the NC National Guard. Without missing a beat, these 939 men and women that I have activated have been there when we need them. ‘Always Ready,’ as their mission explains.

“Yesterday the head of our National Guard General Todd Hunt and I had a call with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and we got to thank him for the tremendous partnership we have in our state, and for the essential work the National Guard is providing in food supply & logistics.

“One of the National Guard’s first tasks is supporting warehouse logistics. They’ve conducted 242 missions, traveling over 45,000 miles to 77 counties delivering personal protective equipment to hospitals, medical sites and other facilities in need.

“General Allen Boyette is leading our Food Supply Chain Work Group, which meets daily. They are ensuring our grocery stores remain stocked and our food supply remains strong. They’re also working with our food banks, delivering over 40,000 meals to school nutrition sites.

“And we have Army and Air Guard medical personnel ready to assist in the event we need to use Sandhills Regional Medical Center as an overflow medical facility.

“These are just some examples of the work of our National Guard. I am proud of them. I am grateful for them. And I can rest just a little bit easier knowing they are Always Ready when we need them.

“As we enter another week of staying at home, I want to thank North Carolinians everywhere for following the restrictions. And I want to remind everyone that we can't let our guard down just yet.

“We've grabbed hold of the opportunity to save lives in North Carolina. We have done that together, through our own actions. We continue to plan for the days ahead when we ease restrictions and work our way back to a new normal. But for now, stick with it.

“We can do this. I know it’s hard, but it is saving lives. As one Charlotte teacher said she would virtually write in her students’ yearbooks, ‘Rise up. Move on. You can do it.’ We can do this, North Carolina.”

Gov. Cooper on NASCAR

“I have had conversations with NASCAR officials and the officials at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. They have submitted plans that involve social distancing. Our public health officials, Secretary Cohen and State Health Director Betsy Tilson, have looked at them and made some suggestions but will approve those. We believe that unless health conditions go down, we can have the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend in Concord.“

Gov. Cooper on Reopen NC

“I understand that people are eager to ease these restrictions. I know it’s frustrating to be at home so much. I also know and have talked to many business owners and people who are out of work, a lot of families are hanging by a thread. This is one of the reasons that we’re pushing out unemployment payments, pushing out stimulus money, trying to get money to small businesses because the thing we have to put first and foremost is the public health and safety of North Carolinians. We have to make sure that things are safe. I’m very eager to move into our phases of reopening and we have a way to look at the indicators to tell us how fast that we’re going to get there and I hope that we move through these as quickly as possible, but we’re going to rely on the science. We’re going to rely on the data. And, we’re going to rely on the facts in order to make decisions about moving forward and we’re going to involve our business community in helping us make decisions in how we do that so that they can be the most effective while we can also be effective to keep the people safe.