North Carolina faces shortage of coronavirus testing kits, Cooper says

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- State officials confirmed Friday night that they have tested 19 people for the [url HREF="https://abc11.com/coronavirus/" TARGET="_blank" REL=""]coronavirus[/url], with two of them testing positive. Gov. Roy Cooper said he expects the numbers to go up as testing increases.[br /][br /]But he also said more supplies are needed.[br /][Ads /][br /]Cooper made the remarks at a news conference Friday afternoon where he and NCDHHS also discussed the state's [url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/chatham-co-man-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-after-italy-visit/5990442/" TARGET="" REL=""]second confirmed novel coronavirus case[/url], in Chatham County. The state's first case involved a [url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/wake-county-coronavirus-patient-is-member-of-cary-church/5988516/" TARGET="" REL=""]Wake County man who returned from Washington State[/url].[br /][br /][twitter ID="1236017325188558848" /][br /][br /]"We know that it's important to get people tested," Cooper said. "It's clear that North Carolina and other states need more test kits from the CDC. I've spoken with VP Mike Pence and Secretary Mandy Cohen has sent a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Secretary Azar outlining this critical need on behalf of North Carolina."[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/us-covid-19-death-toll-hits-12-as-officials-scramble-to-make-more-tests-available/5989870/" TARGET="" REL=""]Death toll rises to 12 as health officials scramble to make more tests available[/url][/b][br /][br /]"People will read more and talk more about this virus," Cooper said. "And I understand that people are worried. Know that the health and safety of our state is a top priority."[br /][br /][twitter ID="1236007063706308609" /][br /][br /]Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, said DHHS has enough tests on hand for 150 people -- and supplies are on the way to test 500 more.[br /][br /]"While this amount is less than what we need to test everyone that meets the new CDC guidelines announced earlier this week, it's a start," Cohen said. "Plus, we are working with our state partners to expand testing, as the Governor mentioned."[br /][Ads /][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/apps/" TARGET="blank" REL=""][b]Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App[/b][/url][br /][br /]Cohen said they're working on expanding testing and signing agreements with the University of North Carolina and Duke University to begin testing next week.[br /][br /]She also said she talked to the CEO of Burlington-based LabCorp and that it is ramping up testing.[br /][br /][iframe SRC="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/1501620/embed" HEIGHTSMALL="720" HEIGHTMEDIUM="720" HEIGHTLARGE="720" /][br /][br /][media ID="5987635" /][br /][br /][b]MORE COVERAGE:[br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/map-of-new-coronavirus-cases-around-the-united-states-world/5988037/" TARGET="" REL=""]Map of COVID-19 cases, deaths in the US, world[/url][br /][Ads /][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/politics/president-trump-signs-$83b-bill-to-fight-coronavirus-in-us/5990320/" TARGET="" REL=""]President Trump signs $8.3B bill to combat coronavirus outbreak in US[/url][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/how-coronavirus-infodemic-is-infecting-the-internet/5989971/" TARGET="" REL=""]How COVID-19 'infodemic' is infecting the internet with false information[/url][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/equipping-your-medicine-cabinet-this-flu-season/5989230/" TARGET="" REL=""]Essentials pharmacists say should be in your medicine cabinet amid flu season, coronavirus scare[/url][/b][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/pets-animals/cdc-says-pets-cant-spread-coronavirus/5988713/" TARGET="" REL=""]After dog in Hong Kong tests 'weak positive,' CDC says pets can't spread COVID-19[/url][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/dont-use-titos-vodka-for-hand-sanitizer/5988400/" TARGET="" REL=""]Don't use Tito's vodka for hand sanitizer[/url][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/health/everything-americans-need-to-know-about-coronavirus/5971803/" TARGET="" REL=""]Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US[/url][/b][br /][br /][i]ABC11's Jonah Kaplan contributed to this report[/i].