Wayne UNC Health Care President and CEO Janie Jaberg says “it’s a war’ as hospital staff across the country battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Jaberg gave an over-the-phone update on the local hospital’s COVID-19 efforts to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners this week.

Jaberg says there are three separate COVID-19 units established at Wayne UNC.

As of Tuesday’s update, Wayne UNC had 24 COVID-19 patients in-house, and seven of those patients came from the local prison.

Jaberg says the hospital is quickly running through its personal protective equipment.

Jaberg says she has never seen a community come together and support its healthcare workers the way Wayne County has in the past few weeks.