Two new COVID deaths in Columbus on National Day of Prayer; four new cases in Horry; televisit with McLeod physicians; sign up quickly for Horry Schools meals program

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Two additional local residents have died of COVID-19 complications, the Columbus County Health Department reported on Thursday as case counts also rose in Horry on the National Day of Prayer.

     That prayerful observance joins the long list of routines changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s not going unobserved at Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church.

     Physician visits have changed, too, with McLeod Health doctors offering televisits.

     Elsewhere the Horry County Schools are offering a new meals at home program for students at qualified schools including some in the Loris and Green Sea areas, but parents have only until Monday to sign up.

     This post will cover these topics and will be updated:

• Two new COVID deaths in Columbus, five more cases
• Four more infections in Horry
• Park and Pray at Beaverdam during National Day of Prayer
• McLeod Health physicians offer televisits
• Sign up quickly for new Horry Schools “Meals-to-You”

Two new COVID deaths in Columbus, five more cases

     Five more Columbus County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to the two who have died, bringing the county’s total of coronavirus deaths to 13.. Both died Thursday morning while hospitalized, the health department reported.

     Both were “previously identified positive cases in Columbus County,” a health department news release said. “To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about these individuals will be released.

     “We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to all of the individuals’ family and friends in this very difficult time.”

With the newly confirmed COVID cases Columbus County has 189 people who have been diagnosed with the disease.

     “Three of the new cases are connected to positive family members, one case is work-related, and the source of infection could not be identified for one case,” the news release said.”

     Recoveries: There are 26 individuals that have completely recovered from COVID-19 in Columbus County,” the health department reported. “Many workplaces require at least two negative COVID-19 tests within 24 hours in order for individuals who no longer have symptoms to return to work after having COVID-19.

     “Retesting many previously positive individuals found that, while they are no longer experiencing symptoms, they are continuing to test positive. Therefore, we cannot consider them recovered.

     “Due to several COVID-19 outbreaks at congregate living facilities and the course of the disease lasting longer than 30 days for many individuals, we are continuing to process recoveries every day. We will be providing another update on COVID-19 recoveries next week.”

     ZIP CODE: Zip Code data showed the Whiteville and Bolton areas each with three newly confirmed COVID cases Thursday, Chadbourn with two, Tabor City and Lake Waccamaw with one each. That data also showed Cerro Gordo with one less confirmed case than Wednesday, it was not clear why.

     “With the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise in Columbus County, we are asking the public to take the necessary measures to stop the transmission of COVID-19,” the health department 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 13,397 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 99 North Carolina counties Thursday, up by 639 from Tuesday and the biggest one-day jump since testing began, the DHHS reported. There were 507 North Carolina deaths attributed to COVID-19 Thursday, 30 more than Wednesday; with 525 current hospitalizations, that number up by nine 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.

Park and Pray at Beaverdam during National Day of Prayer

     National Day of Prayer is today (May 7), but in most locations that does not mean traditional gatherings of some larger groups, holding hands in prayers, and close-contact visits.

     Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church is hosting a Park & Pray event in the church parking lot all day today.

     Everyone is invited to stop by, pull into a spot, and join in pray for their families, their neighbors, their communities, and their country.

Four more infections in Horry

     Four more people in Horry County have been confirmed with COVID-19, two in the Loris Zip Code, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Thursday.

     With the latest report Horry County has recorded 242 people testing positive for the disease since the pandemic began and 18 deaths.

     Zip Code data shows 24 of those cases in the Loris Zip Code, one in the Green Sea area.

     Statewide there have been 7,142 positive tests returned for COVID-19 in South Carolina, up by 214 from Wednesday; with 316 related deaths, that number up by 11 from Wednesday.

McLeod Health physicians offer televisits

     In the interest of patient safety McLeod physicians and providers are offering televisits, “a convenient option for virtual medical visits using a mobile device from your home,” a McLeod Health news release says.

     McLeod Physician Associates Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Alexander explains how to set up a televisit with a McLeod provider in a Vimeo video here.

     “Time is critical in emergency situations,” the news release said. “If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 911 or seek medical treatment at McLeod Health Seacoast.

     “You can trust that our emergency department is safe and our experienced medical staff is prepared to treat both COVID 19 and non-COVID 19 related illnesses.”

Sign up quickly for new Horry Schools “Meals-to-You”

     A new Meals-to-You is launching soon in the Horry County Schools, but there’s just a little time for interested parents of students attending qualified schools to sign up.

     All students attending Community Eligibility Provision schools are qualified. There are 17 of these schools in Horry County, including Daisy Elementary, Green Sea Floyds Elementary and High, Loris Elementary and Middle schools.

     Students who are enrolled in the free/reduced meal program at 15 Horry schools, including Loris High and the ATA, are also qualified.

     Meals-to-You is a new partnership between the Horry County school district, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Baylor University.

     “Meals-to-You will deliver meals at your doorstep for free to those students who attend a qualified school,” a school district news release said. “For more information and to view a list of our qualified schools, click here.

     Parents can apply for this program until Monday, May 11. No applications will be accepted after that. Apply here.

     Meal services will be re-evaluated after May 22.

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.