Thread by @JeffJacksonNC

BREAKING: We now have our first case of known community spread in NC. It's Wilson County.

Here are the last nine days in NC:

3/10 - 7

3/12 - 14

3/15 - 32

3/16 - 38

3/17 - 40

3/18 - 66

3/19 - 115

That's nearly 20x in NC in nine days. #ncpol

This puts NC on the same path that many other struggling states are currently on - only we're a week or two back from where they are now.

That means we have to act on the assumption that we are going to be in their shoes very soon.

Hospitals are starting to cancel elective surgeries and doing their best to empty hospital beds to prepare for a surge.

Our hospital beds are typically 85% full across the state.

If we don't significantly reduce that number within the next week, that's a major problem.

We are also finding off-site locations that could be used to help keep non-COVID patients separate and to increase total capacity.

We all saw how China built a new hospital in ten days. What we're doing is looking to re-purpose existing large buildings that are currently empty.

Doctors and hospital workers are being prepped for this. Whatever type of doctor they are, they're being prepped to switch to this kind of work.

Our state medical board is reactivating retired physicians and nurses by waiving requirements for continuing ed and academic testing.

We're also getting a clearer picture of what this means for people who are now unemployed or not getting paid. The relief mechanisms that we're going to use are starting to become clearer. More on that soon.

From @RaleighReporter:

"NC's emergency management director reminding people that supply lines and fine and there's no need to panic-buy groceries."

From Meck Public Health Director (via @JoeBrunoWSOC9):

There are "at least two"community spread cases in Mecklenburg.