Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health, hopes Gov. Roy Cooper will increase some restrictions Monday as the state's COVID-19 cases climb.
RECORD NUMBER OF CASES >>> IT IS 9:42. AS THANKSGIVING APPROACHES, NORTH CAROLINA IS SETTING RECORDS WITH NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. DR. DAVID WALL WORKS AT UNC HEALTH AND IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT. WE ARE SO HAPPY EVERY TIME HE COMES ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: WE HAVE SEEN 4500 NEW INFECTIONS IN 24 HOURS. I AM STRUCK BY THE PACE OF THE CASES INCREASING COMPARED TO OVER THE SUMMER. IS THE SPREAD HAPPENING TO RAPIDLY TO STOP AT THIS POINT? >> I THINK IS WITHIN OUR POWER BUT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. THANKSGIVING IS COMING AND WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO TRAVEL BUT IT IS HARD NOT TO FOR MANY. AFTER MEMORIAL DAY AND JULY 4, WE MAY SEE A SURGE ON TOP OF THE SEARCH WE ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING. >> Reporter: WE SET A NEW RECORD FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS SIX OUT OF SEVEN DAYS LAST WEEK. ICU CAPACITY IS LIMITED. ARE YOU SEEING THAT IN THE UNC SYSTEM? >> WE ALSO HAVE PATIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE COVID-19 WHO NEED TO BE TREATED IN THE ICU AND THERE IS A COMPETITION FOR BEDS. WITH MORE PEOPLE GETTING INFECTED, EVEN IF THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE IS GOING DOWN AMONG THOSE GETTING IN ACTED. MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING INFECTED AND NOT NEEDING THE HOSPITAL. THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE TO GET HOSPITALIZED IS GOING UP AND WE ARE SEEKING MORE INFECTIONS AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING HOSPITAL IS HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19. >> Reporter: HOW ARE YOU PREPARING IN THE RESPIRATORY UNIT THAT YOU OVERSEE? >> YEAH, OUR RESPIRATORY UNIT, OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL, IS GEARING UP FOR SCREENING MORE PEOPLE. WE CAN INCREASE CAPACITY QUITE A BIT. WE ARE ALREADY SCREENING HUNDREDS PER DAY FOR COVID-19. INSIDE THE HOSPITAL, THERE HAS BEEN PLANS FOR WHAT TO DO IF WE REACH A TIPPING POINT INSIDE THE ICU AND OUTSIDE THE ICU FOR COVID-19 TREATMENT. WE ARE PREPARED, BUT THE PLANS MORE AND MORE ARE BECOMING RELEVANT. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS HOLDING A BRIEFING AT 2:00 P.M. YOU EXPECT RESTRICTIONS TO GO UP ? >> I THINK SO. THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND ALSO THE NEED TO HAVE GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING AND INTERVENTION TO FURTHER LIMIT TRANSMISSION. THE NUMBERS ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY . ONCE WE SEE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ICU BEDS LIMITED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT IS WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS THAT AND I WOULDN'T BE TOO SURPRISED. >> Reporter: DO YOU WANT MORE RESTRICTIONS? >> WHAT IS GOING ON IS UNTENABLE. WE CANNOT GO ON THIS WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAY. I'M ALL FOR ROLLING BACK. I LIKE THE MESSAGE OF DIALING DOWN. IT IS NOT A SHUTDOWN BUT WE CAN DIAL DOWN AND BE MORE CAREFUL. WE CAN PUT IN MEASURES TO REALLY HELP US PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. >> Reporter: THE CDC CAME OUT WITH GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE AT THANKSGIVING. THAT WAS A WEEK OUT FROM THE HOLIDAY, WAS IT TOO LATE? >> I THINK IT IS. THE MESSAGES WE ARE GETTING MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE NOT CANCELING THANKSGIVING, WE ARE DOING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. IN MY HOUSEHOLD, WE ARE KEEPING IT TO OURSELVES WITH THE PEOPLE I LIVE WITH AT MY HOME. WE ARE NOT HAVING OUTSIDERS OR VISITING ANYONE. MY MOM, WHO IS NOT FAR AWAY, IS NOT COMING OVER. YES, I THINK DEFINITELY PEOPLE SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL. >> Reporter: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW MY FAMILY IS PLANNING TO DO THE SAME THING. WITH THE SENIORS IN OUR FAMILIES WHO MAY BE LONELY RIGHT NOW, THE BEST ADVICE IS TO ZOOM WITH THEM AND CALL THEM AND EXPRESS YOUR LOVE.
