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Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday that beginning Wednesday, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness and people who live in certain congregate settings will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

He said the rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers not yet vaccinated, will become eligible April 7.

“This move to Group 4 is good news,” Cooper said. “I know there are many efforts across the state getting vaccines to people as quickly and fairly as possible and I want our providers to know that their work is making all the difference.”

Cooper had previously stated that people in Group 4 would be eligible starting March 24.

The governor’s announcement came only a few hours before President Biden spoke before the American people, promising that all adults would be eligible for the vaccine by May 1. Biden also said Americans were on track to return to a semblance of normal life by July 4, as long as people continued to get vaccinated and wear masks and social distance.

More than 1.1 million North Carolinians have been fully vaccinated, including more than 5,000 Stanly County residents, which represents roughly 8 percent of the population. More than 9,000 county residents have been partially vaccinated, which accounts for almost 15 percent of the population.

Stanly County Health Department received 1,500 coronavirus doses this week — 800 first dose and 700 second dose — as it continues to vaccinate around 400 people each day. The department, as of Thursday, has administered 7,546 first doses and 3,305 second doses.

There have been almost 7,000 coronavirus cases in Stanly County since last March, per the health department, though daily cases have been decreasing over the last month. There were 14 new cases and eight people hospitalized on Thursday.

To schedule a COVID-19 first dose vaccine appointment online at the Stanly County Health Department, visit book.novelhealth.ai/stanly, or call the hotline at 980-323-0205.