Cohen: 'Stubbornly high' rate of spread keeps NC in coronavirus red zone

Through Thursday, 180,744 people had tested positive for the virus across the state since March. Of those, the state estimates about 88% have recovered, but 2,990 have died and 865 remain in the hospital.

The secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services met the media a day after a consultation with Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the president's coronavirus task force.

Birx is on a tour of more than 30 states to consult with state leaders on their response to the virus.

Cohen said Birx had praise for North Carolina's new "Get Behind the Mask" messaging, but that the state needs more support from the federal government for that mask program, in funding for personal protective equipment and in support for more widespread testing.

"Our top request from White House was prevention. We have one of the highest rates of spread in the country," Cohen said.

She also asked that candidates coming to North Carolina offer a good example and abide by state regulations for social distance and mask wearing at campaign events.

"Dr. Birx wore a mask and social distanced. We want to see that from all federal leaders," Cohen said.