North Carolina sees first case of ‘community spread’
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY/WTVD) — The NC Department of Health and Humans Services reports there are nearly 100 cases of coronavirus in the state.
The 97 cases are found in 23 counties, which include Brunswick and New Hanover.
The United States has nearly 9,000 cases across all 50 states.
Wednesday night, President Trump signed a coronavirus relief package into law. That package includes free coronavirus testing for people who need it and paid emergency leave from work, among other things.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the United States here.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a Wilson County patient is the first case of ‘community spread’ in the state. That means the person did not have any known contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, nor did they travel to a state or country with a high number of cases.
“Confirmed community spread is a signal that we need to accelerate to the next phase of work which is mitigation,” Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said during a news conference. She emphasized continuing to follow social distancing guidelines and stressed the need for additional resources for health care workers.
President Donald Trump said the FDA is approving two drugs — the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine and HIV treatment drug Gilead’s remdesivir — for coronavirus treatment.
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