A researcher at the University of North Carolina said Monday that North Carolina could have thousands of COVID-19 cases in a matter of weeks.

Kimberly Powers, an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Public Health, said that her projection is based on the growth rate of cases in the state since the first positive test for Coronavirus was announced on March 3rd.

Monday evening, health officials in North Carolina confirmed 36 COVID-19 cases in the state. 

That figure is expected to top by 100 by the end of his week and 1,000 by the end of the month, according to Powers.

These are all preliminary projections and subject to change. This is a rapidly evolving situation, she said.