CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Social distancing in Mecklenburg County is helping, with a new projected date of Charlotte's surge now forecast for June 8, but there are fears that people are starting to disobey social distancing and stay at home orders which could ruin the progress made.
As of Monday, there are a total of 992 cumulative cases and 16 deaths in Mecklenburg County. That number could double before the peak arrives.
A month ago, there were 3 cases.
The demand for hospital beds in Charlotte could climb to nearly 3,000 if social distancing is remained at its current pace of around 50 percent, according to Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris.
Presenting the new projections to Mecklenburg County commissioners, Harris explained raising the rate of social distancing another ten percent, to 60%, would cut the demand for hospital beds in half. In that scenario, the surge would arrive around June 25.
Successfully flattening the curve means the peak comes later and is lower than had the cases seen a quicker surge.
"This will not end quickly," Harris said, "How long this drags out depends on how we manage our stay at home order.
Harris remarked about seeing more cars on the road again, and urged people to simply stay home.
She understands social distancing can be hard on people but social distancing must continue, she said. The city is still short half the ventilators they could need.
On the current track, a June 8th surge would demand 574 ventilators. The city's hospital system have 243.
A field hospital is still under consideration. It could be built at the Charlotte Convention Center.
"Our hospital systems are continuing to look at how they can increase bed capacity within their walls," Harris said.
Earlier plans for a field hospital at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have been abandoned after it was determined a smaller location could handle the anticipated surge.
Once the peak occurs, there will still be new cases each day, Harris reminded everyone Tuesday.
Harris says anywhere from 25 to 65 percent of our community could have the virus and not even know it.
The Stay Home orders issued by both the state and the county expire April 29. Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio suspects that will be extended, and would eventually be slowly phased out before it is revoked all together.
"One of the things that we would hate to see happen is we ease restrictions, and we see a spike and we have to put it back in place," Diorio said.
New coronavirus testing locations were announced Tuesday.
- 10 a.m. –4 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, in the Atrium Health NorthPark Parking Lot (251 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC 28213).
- 10 a.m. –4 p.m., Thursday, April 16, in the First Baptist Church -West Parking Lot (1801 Oaklawn Ave.)
- 2845 BeattiesFord Rd, next to the Mecklenburg County Public Health Office Charlotte, NC 28216 from 8am –5 pm, Wednesday 4/14/2020
- 5501 Executive Center Drive, on the corner of Albemarle Road Charlotte, NC 28212 from 8am –5 pm, Wednesday 4/14/2020
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