(NORTH CAROLINA NEWS NETWORK) — State officials say they are “concerned” as pandemic trends — such as hospitalizations — are moving in the wrong direction.

At a briefing on Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper announced additional help for child care centers in light of the ongoing pandemic.

In his remarks, Cooper also warned everyone to stay on guard, noting the recent developments of the president and top aides contracting the virus shows how it is “quick to spread and slow to leave.”

State Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen told reporters more testing in the on the way.

Cohen said the uptick in cases and hospitalizations can NOT be connected to the move to phase 3 of the reopening plan, noting it is too early for those changes to be reflected in the numbers.