UNC Health and WakeMed are asking the community for donations of medical supplies as they prepare for more COVID-19 cases at their facilities.

The two health systems recently shared a press release putting out their request for personal protective equipment as positive cases of the new coronavirus continue to rise in the state. The release said N95 masks, surgical masks (with and without shields) and nasal swabs are the highest priority supplies. The systems also need more eye protection, face shields, disposable gloves and disinfectant.

According to the statement, both UNC Health and WakeMed are working to conserve supplies and are prepared to continue handling COVID-19 cases. Many individuals, nonprofits, private companies and others have reached out to offer support, though, and the health systems’ employees are grateful for the support.

“At this critical time, we are calling on our community to donate supplies that will help ensure we can continue to protect our patients, providers, and staff,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health, in the release. “This situation is unprecedented, and we are asking for extra help.”

The release requests donated supplies must be new, unopened boxes of any supplies and stresses the health systems can not use any handmade items.

In Orange County, the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill is a designated drop off spot for any donations. Other locations include UNC Health Learning Street in Morrisville, UNC Wellness Center in Cary and Rex Wellness Center in Raleigh.

For a full list of medical supplies UNC Health and WakeMed are seeking and a list of times to drop off donations at various locations, visit UNC Health’s donation web page.

Note: 97.9 The Hill has been Chapel Hill and Orange County’s daily source for free local news since 1953. Please consider making a donation to continue supporting important local journalism like this.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Health Asks for Medical Supplies, the Community Responds
UNC Health is asking the community for donations of medical supplies as they prepare for more COVID-19 cases at their facilities. N95 masks, surgical masks and nasal swabs are the highest priority supplies – but the system also needs basic materials like eye protection, face shields, disposable gloves and disinfectant. This request comes as medical […]
UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed Prioritizing or Rescheduling Non-Critical Procedures
UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed shared a joint statement on Wednesday saying all three are prioritizing and rescheduling non-critical surgeries, procedures and appointments. The three health systems made the announcement as they shift to conserve important clinical resources during the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak. The move also helps protect patients and medical professionals as […]
UNC Health Begins New COVID-19 Testing at UNC Medical Center
UNC Health has developed a new test for coronavirus that will be used to evaluate local individuals who meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control. The UNC Medical Center McLendon Clinical Laboratories in Chapel Hill developed this diagnostic test for COVID-19 based on a World Health Organization assay. As of Monday, March […]
NC COVID Cases and Hospitalizations Reach New Peaks Following Holidays
The post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases has pushed North Carolina to new records in both daily diagnoses and the percentage of tests being returned positive.
UNC Health Workers March to Show 'Commitment to Fighting Health Inequities'
Hundreds of UNC Health workers gathered outside UNC Medical Centers on Tuesday morning for a march to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Wearing face masks, the hundreds of employees marched around the medical centers lot to raise awareness for health inequities in North Carolina and the United States amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “We […]
UNC Health Experts: New Illness in Children Likely a Reaction to COVID-19
As medical experts continue to learn more about the coronavirus, they’re studying its effects on children. While the illness typically produces weaker symptoms compared to older patients, it’s believed the virus is causing a new reaction in some kids. Dr. Eveline Wu works for UNC Health as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology […]
Infectious Disease Experts: COVID-19 Presents Challenges to Tracing, Screening
North Carolina’s trends indicate the spread of COVID-19 is being mitigated. But medical experts are warning about the challenges the state and country will face when containing the virus as they are gradually opened back up. State health officials and leaders have said there will be a ‘new normal’ for residents when the state begins to […]
UNC Health Emergency Departments Working Together for Pandemic Response
The emergency departments at many hospitals around the country have shifted their efforts to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak, including those of UNC Health. Compared to other areas of hospitals, emergency departments are relatively quiet right now with many people staying at home. Dr. Abhi Mehrotra, who is overseeing UNC Health’s emergency department response to […]
State Health Officials Announce Testing Workgroup Including UNC, Duke Reps
Governor Roy Cooper and state health officials announced the creation of a new collaboration between the government, universities and private professionals to try and increase testing for COVID-19. The announcement on Friday shared the creation of the Testing Surge Workgroup, which consists of officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and […]
UNC Health: 12 Employees in Chapel Hill Test Positive for COVID-19
UNC Health recently had a group of employees at the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill test positive for COVID-19. A spokesperson for the health care system shared a statement with Chapelboro on Thursday confirming multiple employees have tested positive. It said the system has tested hundreds of its more than 13,000 employees at the […]
›