WATCH LIVE: At 3 p.m. Governor Cooper is slated to provide an update on education plans for K-12 public schools during the coronavirus pandemic. He will also issue a general update on statewide COVID-19 measures. https://www.wunc.org/post/watch-gov-cooper-announce-plans-k-12-public-schools-plus-state-covid-19-update

Latest NC COVID-19 stats as of today:
89,484 cases
1,956 positive tests today
1,109 people in hospital
1,552 deaths

We plan to put protections in place and open our schools in a careful way. NC schools will be open for in-person and remote learning with key safety precautions. - @NC_Governor

As a part of this plan, school districts need to provide remote learning options for students who request it. Or they can offer all remote learning if schools choose.

Here's what school reopening looks like:
+ Face Coverings (5 masks will be provided by state per person)

+ Limited number of people allowed in the building to aid in social distancing.

+ All children will be required to undergo symptom checks

+ School schedules will be required to allow extra time for frequent hand washing and cleaning of equipment.

+ Outside visitors and field trips will be limited

I know this will be challenging work for teachers, but I have faith in them. - @NC_Governor

If schools can’t comply with these safety protocols - NC will go to all remote learning as we did in March.

. @NC_Governor also announced that when the current executive order expires on Friday, NC will continue to stay in Phase 2 for another 3 weeks.

Phase 2 in NC will continue for at least another 3 weeks. See all Phase 2 guidelines from @ncdhhs here: https://www.nc.gov/covid-19/staying-ahead-curve/phase-2-faqs#what-is-different-about-phase-2-compared-to-phase-1

. @SecMandyCohen detailed the guidance schools have been given:
+ Staff have received flow charts on how to screen students
+ School nurses have received PPE for staff and students
+ Janitors have received special cleaning protocols for sanitizing schools and buses

"Our students, teachers, and staff members need us to lead by wearing our mask, washing our hands, and staying 6 ft apart, so that they can return to school." - Eric Davis, NC State Board of Education Chair

Thus far $390M in state COVID-19 relief funds have been given to schools for reopening (PPE supplies, etc.)

However, Eric Davis, NC State Board of Education Chair, stressed that more funding is needed on the federal level to help keep schools safely opened.

"We North Carolinians do our finest work in the most uncertain and challenging times. And by rising to this challenge we will reveal our true character and teach our children that they too can overcome." - Eric Davis, NC State Board of Education Chair

What we've seen so far is that children are less likely to get COVID-19, less likely to spread COVID-19, and less likely to get as sick. That is good news.

- Dr. Teresa Flynn, Pediatrician on the board of directors for @ncpeds speaking in Spanish at today's press conference

Q: Can schools choose to offer all remote learning despite the recently passed state law that required students be in person for the first week of school?
A: @NC_Governor General Assembly has recognized these are extenuating circumstances and an all remote plan is allowed.

Q: What happens when a student/teacher tests positive?
A: @SecMandyCohen - we've sent detailed protocols to help schools address the range of possible scenarios. Most importantly, schools should work with their local health departments to get it under control.

I want to work with the @NCLeg on additional school funding, salary increases for teachers, etc. so they can implement all of these important new protocols. We also hope to have a federal congressional funding package soon so we can provide more resources. - @NC_Governor

Q: What about teachers who fall in a high-risk category?
A: We know that remote learning will be happening in many schools, so there will be ways to accommodate them.

Q: Why didn't the state make different policies for High School, Middle School, & Elementary?
A: We left that up to school districts to make that decision on their own. - @NC_Governor

Another questions about what happens when students test positive. @SecMandyCohen detailed the contact tracing they'd conduct, alerting others if they've been exposed, implement testing and cleaning protocols. It doesn't necessarily mean that a school needs to close.