North Carolina Has 10.5 Million People and Only 700 Coronavirus Tests

Lawmakers have sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence inquiring about the lack of additional test kits.

In a rare show of bipartisanship, members of North Carolina’s federal delegation sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence protesting the inadequate number of tests made available for the state. 

“North Carolina has not yet received additional test kits, which the CDC had indicated would be delivered this week at the latest,” the letter read. Signees included Republinca Sen. Thom Tillis, and Democrat Rep. David Price.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has promised to increase production on the tests, but with more cases being confirmed in the state, the current supply is no match for the expected demand. The current number of confirmed diagnoses in the state is at least 17; there have been 67 completed tests as of Thursday. 

Gov. Roy Cooper has advised the public to cancel all gatherings of 100 people or more starting Friday. Although compliance is voluntary, under the state of emergency, which Cooper declared this week, it could be made mandatory. 

“We know that lives are at stake,” Cooper said. “We also know that all of our lives will change in some way over the next few weeks and months. We know that there will be disappointment. We know that there will be loss of income.”

However, “we are all in this together.”