Ninth death, 38 case COVID spike in Columbus as Horry goes a day without newly confirmed infections

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     A ninth Columbus County resident has died of complications of COVID-19, while 38 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Columbus County Health Department reported Wednesday.

     Across the state line there were no new COVID related deaths or case confirmations, South Carolina’s Department of Health & Environmental Control reported.

This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• A COVID death and 38 case spike in Columbus
• Horry reports no confirmed infections

A COVID death and 38 case spike in Columbus

     One person previously identified with COVID-19 died Wednesday in an area hospital, the health department reported.

     “To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about this individual will be released,” the news release said. “We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to all of the individuals’ family and friends in this very difficult time.”

     Easily the largest single-day total of newly confirmed cases in the county, 38 people newly confirmed with the coronavirus pushed the county’s total number of confirmed cases to 141.

     Mass testing of residents in congregate care facilities in the county, where previous cases have already been confirmed, contributed to the new positive cases, Health Director Kim Smith said.

     Twenty-seven of the new cases are connected to congregate living facilities in the county, the news release said, without being specific.

     Three facilities in the county, Tabor Commons Assisted Living in Tabor City, Liberty Commons in Whiteville and Premier Living, have previously been self-identified as having COVID positive residents, that information confirmed by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reporting.

     Tabor Commons reported its first four cases during the weekend.

     Of the other 11 people newly confirmed with COVID-19 in the county, “four are connected to the large family gathering referenced in previous releases,” the health department reported, with three others connected to known positive cases, two believed related to community transmission with no clearly defined source, and two cases still under investigation.

     An update on COVID-19 recoveries in Columbus County will be released next week, the health department reported.

     “With the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise in Columbus County, we are BEGGING the public to take the necessary measures to stop the transmission of COVID-19,” the news release said. “The Columbus County Health Department would like to remind everyone of the recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which are:

• Social distancing (e.g. avoiding crowds, self-quarantining, no mass gatherings, only going out in public when necessary)
• Wearing a mask or face covering when in public places
• Washing hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw it away, and then wash your hands
• Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

     Statewide there are 9,948 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 98 North Carolina counties Wednesday, up by 380 from Tuesday, the NC Department of Health and Human Services reported. There were 354 North Carolina deaths attributed to COVID-19 Wednesday, 12 more than Tuesday; with 551 current hospitalizations, that number up by 88 from the day before.

     Regularly updated information from the Columbus County Health Department is available on its Facebook page here.

     Columbus County Health Department’s COVID-19 Call Center is also operating from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Call 910-640-6615 ext. 7045 or 7046.

 Horry reports no confirmed infections

     For the first time in weeks there were no new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Horry County Wednesday, no new deaths of the disease.

     To date the county has recorded 211 confirmed COVID cases resulting in 15 deaths. Zip Code data from DHEC shows the Loris area with 17 cases, the Green Sea Zip Code with one.

     Statewide there have been 5,881 positive tests returned for COVID-19 in South Carolina, up by 130 from Tuesday. Eleven additional deaths in the state reported Wednesday brings that total to 203.

Updates

     Look for continuing coverage on local impacts from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak here and in the Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.