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Health director: No plans for COVID-19 field hospital in Mecklenburg County

While Samaritan's Purse opened a COVID-19 field hospital in Lenoir, Health Director Gibbie Harris said there are no plans to open one in Mecklenburg County.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said Thursday the county is only beginning its upward trend of COVID-19 cases with further increases and high metrics expected through mid-February. 

Harris made the statement during a virtual press conference, also saying there are no plans to establish a field hospital for coronavirus patients in Mecklenburg County. She said Atrium Health assured county officials they can handle a surge in new patients. 

"We're told that they're able to handle the situation and there's no reason for anyone to avoid going to the hospital if they need to," said Harris, who told reporters she'd received the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Harris mentioned she wasn't one of the front-line workers who needed the vaccine but the county "didn't want to waste" any available vaccines and gave her the shot. Harris said she hasn't experienced any side effects other than mild soreness since taking the vaccine. 

Phase 1b vaccinations began Wednesday for adults 75 and older, regardless of medical condition or living situation. Appointments are required to receive the vaccination, and all appointment slots are filled through the end of January. 

When reservations first opened Tuesday for approximately 5,000 appointments administered by the Mecklenburg County Health Department in January, available times booked up quickly as both the website and phone system struggled to handle the volume of inquiries.

The availability of appointments through private health care systems like Atrium and Novant introduces a new avenue for those seeking the vaccine.

Mecklenburg County's EMS agency, MEDIC, announced it'll require its employees to work mandatory overtime hours to grapple with the rise in COVID-19 transports.

Dr. Jonathan Studnek, MEDIC's deputy director, said crews will work an additional eight, 10- or 13-hour shift every two-week pay period.

Dr. Studnek said the last time they instituted mandatory overtime was in 2012 when Charlotte hosted the Democratic National Convention.

He added Mecklenburg County residents have a critical role in helping paramedics and EMTs.

"The best thing you can do to help us out is to keep yourself safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, wait six feet away from each other," Dr. Studnek said.

North Carolina reported 10,398 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, marking the first time North Carolina had over 10,000 cases in a single day. Hospitalizations due to the virus are also set a new record, with 3,960 people being treated for COVID-19 statewide. 

RELATED: Can out-of-towners get vaccinated in NC?

Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of DHHS, said 96 of the state's 100 counties are in the orange or red zone for community spread of the virus. Cohen said the amount of coronavirus in the state is "alarming."

"With hospitals feeling the strain and more people sick, there has never been a more important time to take this seriously," Gov. Roy Cooper said.

RELATED: North Carolina reports over 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in single day for first time

Five hospital systems in the Foothills will be getting relief as Samaritan's Purse opened a 30-bed emergency field hospital Thursday afternoon.

The field hospital is located in Caldwell UNC Healthcare's parking lot in Lenoir, and it'll serve Catawba Valley Health System, Caldwell UNC Health Care, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, Carolinas Healthcare System Blue Ridge, and Frye Regional Medical Center.

Caldwell UNC's president Laura Easton said the field hospital opened at the perfect time as the Foothills experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"I have many of my staff here, and I can see in their eyes a hope that was fledgling a few weeks ago," Easton said during the opening ceremony.

Samaritan's Purse has previously built field hospitals for COVID-19 patients in Northern Italy, the Bahamas and New York City. The non-profit expects to start building a field hospital in Los Angeles County next week.

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