NC Coronavirus: Field Hospital Plans Scrapped As Curve Flattens

CHARLOTTE, NC — Community compliance with stay-at-home orders meant to slow the spread of novel coronavirus has led Atrium Health and Novant Health to temporarily shelve plans for a field hospital in Mecklenburg County, the hospital systems announced Wednesday. The news comes as state public health officials say stay-at-home policies are working in North Carolina, and are "flattening the curve" when it comes to growth in the number of cases throughout the state.

"We appreciate the proactive steps taken by the County to enact stay-at-home policies," CEOs for the hospital systems said in a joint April 15 letter to Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio. "In short, it is clear they are beginning to work."

Projections for peak hospital needs are declining, with the current trajectory showing positive cases doubling every six days instead of previous projections of every 2.85 days, they said.

"As a result of our combined efforts, we believe we are now in a position to meet the 600 medical bed need that was previously requested for a field hospital, assuming the effects of social distancing trend continues the current trajectory," the CEOs said, adding, "It is important to note this trend could reverse quickly if social distancing is eased prematurely without supporting data."

As of Wednesday morning, North Carolina public health officials confirmed 5,123 cases of novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, and 431 hospitalizations. At least 117 deaths have been reported in North Carolina from coronavirus-related illness, according to NC Department of Health and Human Services.

North Carolina's number of cases reported April 15 represents an increase of 99 confirmed cases in a day. Mecklenburg County has the largest number of confirmed cases with 1,015 cases and 15 deaths, followed by Wake County (510 cases), Durham County (330 cases, two deaths) and Rowan County (206 cases and three deaths).

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In the past month, Gov. Roy Cooper has put in place a number of executive orders that encourage social distancing, from limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer, closing schools and restaurant dining, limiting capacity in stores, to issuing a statewide stay-at-home order, which is set to expire April 29.

"We're flattening the curve and fewer people are getting sick," DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said Wednesday afternoon.

Compliance with the executive orders means "our hospitals are not overwhelmed right now," Cooper said. "North Carolina has the capacity."

Cooper said decisions on new executive orders regarding social distancing policies for the state will be made at the end of April, and that his intention is to reopen the state's economy incrementally based on progress in COVID-19 testing, tracing and seeing overall trends move in the right direction.

"We can't stay home forever," he said.

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