RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services listed a record number of people in the state as hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

Wake County public health officials handed out nearly 50,000 N95 masks to 35 community organizations on Tuesday

One site run by Wake County ran out of N95 masks due to demand

Officials will still be handing out masks at many locations

More than 13,000 positive novel coronavirus cases were added to the dashboard since Monday.

Beyond the strain on the health care sector, there is now a major public push for personal protective equipment, and people are looking for where they can find it.

Wake County public health officials want to make sure everyone not only has a facial covering but a certain one: the N95 mask.

There has been such high demand for these masks that the busiest location in the county, the Departure Drive site in Raleigh, ran out of masks Tuesday.

 

 

Larry French is the disaster preparedness manager for Wake County who coordinates this type of need for various communities.

“It's an opportunity for us to get out in the community and to support the community. It's been a regular change just trying to keep up with all the needs," French said. 

He said throughout the pandemic the county has availed vaccines and boosters to residents then quickly pivoted to its N95 mask distribution.

The goal is reaching equity by offering access to the best PPE possible through hard effort. French called the pandemic a great training opportunity to learn by doing.

“In a way that's helpful, practical, useful and efficient with our staff who is torn between a lot of different things," French said.

On Tuesday afternoon, that meant Wake County gave away almost 50,000 N95 masks to 35 organizations in the county, according to French. These organizations included churches, homeless shelters, food pantries and more.

“I love being able to get these out to the community," French said. 

Here are some of the locations offering N95 masks in the county:

Wake County Western Health & Human Services Center

111 James Jackson Ave., Cary, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Wake County Northern Regional Center

350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest, 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Wake County Eastern Regional Center

1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon, 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Wake County Southern Regional Center

130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina, 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Wake County Human Services Center (vaccine clinic location)

5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.