RALEIGH North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper gave an upbeat report on the state’s COVID-19 cases Wednesday, declaring the declining trends “good news” and gearing up to vaccinate children as soon as next week.

In a news conference streamed statewide, the governor cited lower case numbers and hospitalizations coupled with higher vaccinations and children back in the classroom.

“It’s good news,” Cooper said. “Although every death is painful and now often avoidable, we’ve felt a renewed sense of hope as our COVID numbers have continued their steady improvement.

“People are eating at restaurants and going to concerts and ballgames again. People are traveling again. And most people are back at work, although many are doing it in a different way, or at a different job.”

But, he added, “North Carolina’s fight is not over,” and said the state is preparing to handle an influx of new vaccinations once children become eligible for the shot.

Tuesday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to authorize Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11, the first step before the FDA gives it full approval and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weighs its own recommendation. That could come as soon as next week.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said 750 locations will be ready to vaccinate children statewide, including doctors’ offices, pharmacies and health departments, whenever that approval happens. Cohen noted 400,000 doses will be available.

“There’s plenty of supply,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cooper’s announcement comes as DHHS relaxes its guidelines on face coverings in schools.

Until this week, DHHS recommended all students and employees wear masks, no matter their vaccination status. The state’s instructions loomed large as only 12 of 103 districts voted to make masks optional.

The revised guidelines say counties can consider making masks optional when COVID-19 transmission reaches a moderate to low rate, but only among the vaccinated.

Once the transmission rate remains low, counties can consider optional masks for everyone.

But Cohen said officials still want masks in all schools and “are not close to that yet.”

The state follows the transmission rates that are tracked by the CDC. The map currently shows only two counties out of 100 in the moderate range — Cherokee and Hyde. All other counties are “substantial” or “high.” No counties are considered “low.”

Cohen said they will reevaulate guidance as trends change, but that masks should continue to remain in all schools. It is currently up to school districts to decide whether to make masks optional or required.

Cohen said it is premature to talk about requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for students along with other required vaccinations.

With 64% of North Carolinians ages 12 and older fully vaccinated statewide, Cooper and Cohen stressed the need for more COVID-19 shots.

“Every unvaccinated person is another foothold allowing this virus to regain strength,” Cooper said.

They also encouraged people who are eligible to get booster shots.

The governor said he will keep the state’s emergency order, which has been in place since the beginnings of the pandemic in early 2020.