First a few administrative matters. We have gotten advice from the sergeant at arms, the health and Human Services centers for disease control, individuals in the hearing room will he at least 6 feet apart. There is no room for the public and therefore but this is all streaming and therell be an unedited version of it that anyone can watch later. Witnesses are participating by videoconference today and some senators are as well. I like to Say Something about mask. The office of attending physician has said since we are 6 feet apart we dont need to wear masks although some may. Thats why my mask is off. Although i have one and i wear it outside because as dr. Redfield reminded us yesterday its extremely important tool for stopping the spread of covid. Im grateful to the rules committee, sergeant at arms the press gallery and the Capitol Police and chung check in the Evan Griffith r. Staff, all their hard work in helping to keep us safe in helping us do these conferences by video with wh
Still hospitalized. Even during the weekend when the actual reporting slows down a bit, we continue to see record high case counts. And we continue to be concerned with our percentage of positive tests. We are watching closely to capacity. Spital bed tell you, thatll can change really quickly. As we see North Carolinas upward trends, we must redouble our work. Our department of health and Human Services team is pushing local Health Departments, especially in counties experiencing the highest growth. Forsyth, lee, mecklenburg, and wake are of particular concern. Over the weekend i talked with Vice President pence. I asked him and the federal government to help us with increasing testing sites and capabilities. Another focus will be testing all nursing home residents and staff and this testing is ongoing. Ournow going to ask secretary of health and Human Services to share an update for us. Dr. Cohen . Thank you, governor. Slowing the spread of the virus early on has allowed us to build o
Regulations members are required to leave their cameras on the entire time they are in an official proceeding, even if they step away from the camera. This is an entirely remote hearing and as such the Committee Ruling will be closed and members who choose to sit with their individual devices in the hearing room must wear headphones to avoid feedback echoes and distortion resulting for more than one person in the room on the Software Platform as has been reported by the committees. They also are excited to adhere to social distancing and safe healthcare guidelines including masks, gloves and wiping down their area both before and after their presence in the hearing room. While a roll call is not necessary to establish a quorum, whatever there is an official proceeding with low participation the clerk will call the roll to help make clear who is here at the start of the proceeding. I will ask the clerk to call on the role. Madame clerk. [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [r
We pray for those who have lost loved ones and for those who are still hospitalized. Even during the weekend when the actual reporting slows down a bit, we continue to see record high case counts. And we continue to be concerned with our percentage of positive tests. And there hospitalizations. We are watching closely to monitor hospital bed capacity. As well as icu bed capacity. Right now, our hospitals do have bed capacity and that is good. But as dr. Cohen will tell you, that can change really quickly. As we see North Carolinas upward trends, we must redouble our work. Detecting and isolating the virus. Our department of health and Human Services team is pushing assistance to local Health Departments, especially in counties experiencing the highest growth. Durham, forsyth, guilford, johnston, lee, mecklenburg, and wake are of particular concern. Over the weekend i talked with Vice President pence about North Carolinas concerning numbers. I asked him and the federal government to hel
[roll call] [roll call] pursuant to Committee Rule Opening Statements is limited to the chair and Ranking Member and this allows to hear from our witnesses sooner and provides members and adequate time to answer questions. I now trigger myself for an opening statement. Before i deliver the opening remarks i must first acknowledge the recent protests against Police Misconduct in in favor of Racial Equity and justice across the nation. Times are demanding and we address this countrys centuryold challenges and with todays hearing we can be prepared to answer the call to Racial Equity and justice in education. I want to note this hearing marks the committees first fully remote hearing pursuant to House Resolution 965 and accompanying regulations. To date we will examine how covid19 pandemic has directly impacted his state and local government revenue and how projected state and local government shortfalls to further exacerbate educational inequities rooted in a with the inequities rooted a