Thread by @JeffJacksonNC

As the coronavirus outbreak continues, there is some confusion and misinformation about what is happening in North Carolina.

Here are the facts as of March 9, 1:00 p.m.:

#ncpol #covid19 #coronavirus #nc #charlotte

𝟭) 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮

Wake County - Individual traveled from Washington state.

Chatham County - Individual traveled from Italy.

In addition, an individual in Spartanburg, SC, who has tested positive recently returned from Italy through Charlotte's airport. However, there are currently NO reported cases in Mecklenburg.

𝟮) 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀

NC has begun testing cases at NC State, which allows for faster results (24-hour turnaround time).

However, NC has not received the number of kits we need from the CDC.

The laboratory supplies we have on-hand from the CDC are only adequate to test approximately 150 individuals.

Additional supplies en route to NC, however those incoming shipments will only allow us to test an additional 500 people - far below CDC guidance.

𝟯) 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸

NC DHHS signed an agreement with UNC on Wednesday and Duke on Thursday so they can begin testing. However, the shortage of test kits from the CDC will hamper this effort.

In addition, LabCorp will begin testing in the next couple of weeks. They have a 3-4 day turnaround time at this point. They will be using their own test so they won't be limited by the CDC supply issues.

LabCorp will eventually help some of the volume, but it will take time to ramp up. Also, that turnaround time is a challenge because the folks that LabCorp test will need to stay quarantined 3-4x longer than the ones we test.

𝟰) 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀

Last month, Governor Roy Cooper established the COVID-19 Task Force to support the state’s ongoing effort to monitor, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.

He also ordered the creation of the COVID-19 Helpline toll free at 1-866-462-3821.

To ask questions online NC citizens should visit ncpoisoncontrol.org and select “chat.”'

𝟱) 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

If/when community transmission accelerates, slowing the rate of infection will be key to making sure our hospitals are not overwhelmed. Follow these recommendations not just to protect yourself and your family, but also...

... to help slow the overall rate of infection to make sure that our hospitals don't get hit all at once:

- Wash your hands several times a day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

- Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

- Stay home when you are ill.

𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.