By WBTV Web Staff | March 20, 2020 at 2:52 PM EDT – Updated March 20 at 10:34 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – North Carolina is making plans to activate a “small number” of National Guard soldiers to assist with making sure supplies get to where they are needed across the state.
Director of Emergency Management Michael Sprayberry made the announcement during a press conference with health officials Friday afternoon to update the public on the state’s ongoing response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sprayberry said the soldiers will “serve in a logistical capacity helping with warehousing and transportation of supplies and equipment.” He added that those supplies would largely consist of “personal protection.”
There is no word on when the soldiers will be activated or where they will primarily be operating.
Sprayberry also stressed the need for N.C. residents to not buy supplies, particularly food, in bulk.
“Please resist the urge to buy in excess – stores will remain open and there is not a food shortage,” Sprayberry said.
He said that anyone with questions about food assistance, help for families or coronavirus preparedness can still call N.C. 211.
The latest count was updated just before 9:30 a.m. Friday. It’s not clear whether the number includes new cases out of Mecklenburg County, which have reached 43 in total.
Thursday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper confirmed North Carolina’s first case of COVID-19 due to community spread. This means health officials cannot track where the person contracted the virus – they had no contact with a known source and had not traveled recently.
At least 38 North Carolina counties have positive coronavirus cases. During Friday’s press conference, health officials said that four patients are currently hospitalized.
An order for North Carolina remains in place to keep mass gatherings to 100 people or less.
Copyright 2020 WBTV. All rights reserved.
