Nursing home cases spike in Loris, recoveries at Tabor Commons; COVID claims three more in Columbus, five new infections in Horry

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     COVID-19 continues unpredictable impacts, cases spoking at a Loris nursing home, while Tabor Commons Assisted Living is celebrating recoveries.

     Another three Columbus County residents have been claimed by the disease, 12 more infected, while in Horry five newly confirmed cases have been reported.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• Nursing home cases spike in Loris, recoveries at Tabor Commons
• COVID claims three more in Columbus, with 12 new infections
• Five new coronavirus infections in Horry

Nursing home cases spike in Loris, recoveries at Tabor Commons

     Nearly two-thirds of the Loris Zip Code residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week have come from one location, Loris Rehab and Nursing Center, state Department of Health and Environmental Control data shows.

     Tabor Commons Assisted Living, meanwhile, is celebrating 14 patients who have recovered from the corona virus.

     Loris Rehab: Family members of Loris Rehab residents have been getting reports of COVID infections inside the facility, some perhaps suspected, that were confirmed by DHEC data on nursing homes released on Friday and Tuesday, the normal weekly schedule.

     In the past week a total of 22 residents and staff at Loris Rehab have tested positive for COVID-19.

     One new resident death from the coronavirus was included in Friday’s DHEC report, the total now three. No staff members have died as a result of those infections, the DHEC data shows.

     There has been more testing across South Carolina at nursing homes, which was expected to show increases in the number of COVID cases. At Loris Rehab there are now 38 residents reported with the coronavirus, double the 19 reported last Tuesday. There were 26 residents infected, the Friday data showed.

     Infected staff numbers have also risen, from four last Tuesday, to five Friday, seven this week on Tuesday.

     Tabor Commons: There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths and no newly confirmed coronavirus infections at hard-hit Tabor Commons in the past week, data from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services released Tuesday showed.

     Since the first four residents were confirmed infected with the disease on April 27, Tabor Commons been through nine related resident deaths, with 50 residents and five staff members testing positive for COVID-19.

     Things are looking better there, RenCare Solutions President Lauren Reavis Ware said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

     “We are thrilled to announce we now have 14 residents that are considered recovered,” Ware wrote. “We will be celebrating their transition from isolation today and we are continuing to work hard to help our other residents through their recoveries as well.

     “Thanks for your continued support and prayers – we have felt them and have been comforted knowing we have so many in our community behind us.

COVID claims three more in Columbus, with 12 new infections

     Another three Columbus County residents have died of COVID-19 complications, the Columbus County Health Department reported Monday, with another 12 people confirmed infected with the disease.

     With those deaths COVID-19 has claimed 24 county residents.

     It was not clear when the three died, because the county’s last coronavirus update was issued Saturday, then suspended until Tuesday during the Memorial Day holiday.

     All three died in a hospital, a health department news release said, and “were previously identified positive cases in Columbus County. 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 anther 12 people infected with COVID-19, a total of 306 county residents have contracted the disease since the pandemic began.

     “Four of the new cases are connected to positive family members, three of the cases are connected to congregate living facilities in Columbus County, two cases are work-related, one case is a healthcare worker, and the source of infection could not be found for two cases,” the health department reported.

     By Zip Code: Hallsboro recorded three new COVID infections, Nakina one, those respective totals rising to nine and five Tuesday, data posted on the DHHS dashboard showed.

     Tabor City and Whiteville Zip Codes each showed 78 individuals testing COVID-19 positive, their totals unchanged Tuesday.

     Prevention: “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.

     Recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

• 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

     NC Totals: Statewide there are 24,140 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 100 North Carolina counties Tuesday, up by 176 from Monday, the DHHS reported. There were 766 North Carolina deaths attributed to COVID-19 Tuesday, 12 more than Monday; with 627 current hospitalizations, that number down by six from the day before.

     CC Health Updates: 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.

Five new coronavirus infections in Horry

     Five additional Horry County residents have been tested positive for COVID-19, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Tuesday, bringing the total to 382 since the pandemic began.

     Horry County has recorded a total of 22 coronavirus related deaths, the latest reported Monday.

     Zip Code data reported by DHEC showed the Loris area with 72 confirmed COVID cases, Green Sea with five, those numbers unchanged from Sunday.

     Statewide there have been 10,416 positive tests returned for COVID-19 in South Carolina, up by 253 from Monday; with 446 related deaths, that number up by six from Monday.

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.