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State Health Director Says One Hospitalization Among COVID-19 Cases

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. (NIAID-RML via AP)

According to the state health director, there are 33 cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina, and of those cases, one individual has been hospitalized.

Dr. Elizabeth Tilson shared the latest information at a press briefing.

She said that as of Monday morning, the state lab has tested 329 individuals and now has the capacity to test 1,300.

Currently, testing is only being recommended for people who have fever, cough or shortness of breath, and are flu-negative.

Those who have tested positive have all had contact with an individual with COVID-19 or a travel history that could have exposed them. But Tilson says there's more to learn.

“So although we still suspect there may be some community spread, to date we still don't have documentation of that community spread,” she said.

The latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend social distancing and no mass gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.

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