Friend,
New COVID Testing Problem
The first shortage was test kits.
The second shortage was extraction kits, which are needed to extract the RNA that gets tested.
The new shortage is masks, gloves, and gowns for medical personnel (PPE - personal protective equipment).
As it turns out, this *directly* impacts COVID testing. You can't do a COVID test without this protective equipment because we cannot risk our medical personnel getting sick and in North Carolina - as in other states - we're running low on the equipment they need to stay safe.
The shortage is so severe that it may result in a modification of the eligibility criteria for who qualifies for a COVID test in order to ensure that there's enough testing capacity for higher-risk populations. DHHS is currently reviewing guidance to ensure we have maximum testing coverage given our resource constraint.
Shelter in place
The Mecklenburg county health director has stated that it's possible that our county will soon be told to shelter in place. There was no timeline or probability offered - just a caution to our folks so that they can take that possibility seriously starting now.
Mecklenburg's public health director does have the independent legal authority to call for our county to shelter in place. The state's approval would not be necessary.
More test kits
Mecklenburg is now contracting directly with LabCorp because we were only getting a few test kits per day from the state (which, in turn, is only getting a small number from the CDC). We asked the state for more, they told us to try and buy some directly from LabCorp, so that's what we're doing.
Community spread
Still no documented community spread, although most believe it is likely occurring. Estimates on the rate of possible community spread vary wildly. We are forming policy based on the assumption it is occurring.
Day care
Guidance on day care and child care centers is coming from the state this week.
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NC COVID stats as of 3/18 at 10:00 a.m.
66 known cases - up from 40 yesterday, largely because of 15 Duke students who had just returned from Europe.
Counties: Wake: 17, Durham: 12, Mecklenburg: 14, Harnett: 4, Chatham: 3, Forsyth: 2, Johnston: 2, Brunswick: 1, Cabarrus: 1, Craven: 1, Guilford: 1, Iredell: 1, Lincoln: 1, Sampson: 1, Wayne: 1, Wilson: 1, Onslow: 1, Watauga: 1
430 tests have been completed at state lab, which currently has capacity for another 1,250 tests.
At least 1,420 tests have been completed by non-state labs (hospitals and commercial labs). Total capacity there is unknown, but reported to be much higher than state capacity.
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Talk soon,
