If we lift those restrictions at the end of April it's 50%.
Because the model projects that lifting restrictions at the end of April - and not replacing them with anything of equal effectiveness - will take us from 250,000 cases to 750,000 cases in a matter of weeks.
Good news: We are on track to minimize the loss of life in North Carolina. What we are doing is working. The sacrifices we are making as individuals are adding up to a major reduction in loss of life.
Mass testing (+ contact tracing + isolation) may become the biggest piece of a *post-peak but pre-vaccine* strategy.
North Carolina has received three shipments from the Strategic National Stockpile, which means we’ve received 33% of our request.
We’ve been told the stockpile is nearly depleted and not to expect any more shipments.
As you may have seen reported, it’s been made more difficult by the fact that we’re competing against other states and hospital systems.
If you have PPE to sell, contact VendorHelp.COVID19@dhhs.nc.gov.
Nearly 400,000 North Carolinians have lost their jobs in the last few weeks. DES is receiving roughly 1,000 claims per hour - 100x the normal number.
Which means - as many of you have painfully experienced - the system is totally overwhelmed.
NOTE: 30% of the calls they are receiving are from people checking on the status of their claim or asking general questions.
This is coming up a lot - and also happens to apply to me (I’m due).
Right now DOT doesn’t have the authority to push back inspection dates, but they are planning on asking for that authority when the legislature returns to session this month.
It’s because we have a lot of people who are chemically dependent on alcohol and if we suddenly cut off their access they would go into withdrawal and flood the emergency rooms, which we can’t have right now.
The people who are going to be sick during peak infection in the next few weeks are *not sick yet.*
We still have the time and the ability to minimize the loss of life in our state.