Tabor Commons reports recoveries, as COVID trends prompt concern in SC, Horry
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Welcome news on the COVID front has come from Tabor City, while across the state line Gov. Henry McMaster and South Carolina health officials are sounding an alarm as COVID-19 deaths and cases rise at alarming rates across South Carolina.
Several hot spots identified by the Department of Health and Environmental Control this week, including Horry, prompt concern.
This post will cover these topics and may be updated:
- Tabor Commons residents have ‘fully recovered’
- COVID up sharply in ‘Hot Spot’ Horry
- Loris Rehab continues to battle virus spread
- Coronavirus testing in Loris, Tabor this week
Tabor Commons residents have ‘fully recovered’
Tabor Commons Assisted living, hard hit by COVID-19, announced the full recovery of its residents in a Facebook post Wednesday.
Making the announcement “with very joyful hearts,” facility leaders said Tabor Commons will remain “under isolation procedures until 28 days have passed since our last positive or symptomatic resident or staff,” the post said. “This will be June 24. We are counting down to this day.”
Public health leaders require the isolation, the post said, adding a note of gratitude.
“We could not have made it through these trying times without the work and dedication of our amazing team members. They have shown fearlessness, compassion, and heart.
“We also appreciate the support of our greater community that has come in the form of prayers, meals, letters, cards, parades, and posters. We have all seen and heard you and felt the LOVE – so THANKS!”
Two residents who began showing symptoms tested positive for COVID-19, which prompted a widespread testing effort that revealed to staff members who had the coronavirus without showing symptoms, RenCare Solutions President Lauren Reavis Ware said then.
RenCare owns Tabor Commons. Before the end of May 52 residents and five staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, and ten residents died of COVID complications, state Department of Health and Human Services data showed.
Tabor Commons had already implemented isolation measures well before the first COVID cases were found there, Ware said. That won’t be changing soon.
“Please know that while we wish our lifting of isolation from the COVID outbreak would mean we could start welcoming visitors back to our community – we are still going to be under the visitation restrictions set by the Department of Health Service Regulation and Centers for Disease Control, the Tabor Commons post said. “At this time it is unclear when these visitation restrictions will be lifted, but we will keep our residents and their loved ones posted with any changes.
COVID up sharply in ‘Hot Spot’ Horry
With 79 Horry residents newly confirmed with COVID-19 Wednesday, 47 on Tuesday, a total of 803 residents have tested positive for the disease since the pandemic began, 31 have died, DHEC data showed.
Four new cases were shown in the Loris Zip Code Wednesday, that total now 135, with one new case in Green Sea bringing that total to 10.
Statewide there have been 15,759 positive tests returned for COVID-19 in South Carolina, up by 528 from Tuesday; with 575 related deaths, up by 7 from Tuesday.
A total of 513 South Carolina residents were hospitalized for treatment of COVID complications on Wednesday, that number down by 28 from Tuesday.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said the upward trends statewide and in identified hot spots are concerning during a Wednesday afternoon news conference with Gov. Henry McMaster.
“Today, I am more concerned about COVID-19 in SC than I have ever been before,” Dr. Bell said.
She urged everyone to follow social distancing guidelines, including the wearing of masks or cloth face coverings in public, keeping six feet from other people, and avoiding mass gatherings. She said masks and distance are equally important.
“It should not just be a mask or six feet,” Dr. Bell said. “It should be a mask and six feet.”
Loris Rehab continues to battle virus spread
Five residents of Loris Rehab and Nursing Center have died of COVID-19 complications in the past week, with the outbreak there infecting eight additional residents and five more staff members, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control data shows.
In the latest DHEC reporting, released Tuesday, a total of ten residents have succumbed to the coronavirus, with 55 residents and 24 staff members infected with the disease since the outbreak began in early May.
DHEC releases those reports on Tuesday and Friday of each week.
At Tabor Commons Assisted Living in Tabor City the toll has held steady since May 29, with ten residents who have died, 52 residents and five staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Coronavirus testing in Loris, Tabor this week
Free COVID-19 testing clinics will be held this Friday in Loris and Tabor City.
Testing will take place at the McLeod Loris Center for Health & Fitness and at Goshen Medical Center in Tabor City.
Loris: Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the drive-up clinic will be held in the center parking lot, 3207 Casey Street, testing provided by McLeod Health in partnership with South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
“We are pleased to be able to offer testing,” McLeod Health spokeswoman Kelly Hughes said.
Anyone with or without symptoms may take part. Those being tested should remain in their car, only drive-throughs will be accepted, walk-ins will not.
Those who are tested should receive results within 48 to 72 hours.
For details visit here.
Tabor City: Testing in Tabor City will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Goshen offices, 270 North US 701 Hwy Bypass, by appointment only. Call 910-267-2044 to schedule an appointment.
Conducted by the Columbus County Health Department and Goshen Medical Center, the testing will require no out-of-pocket cost.
Elsewhere: Other Columbus County Health Department and Goshen Medical Center testing locations, time and dates include: Fair Bluff Town Hall, 1175 Main Street, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16; Chadbourn Baptist Church, 504 North Howard Street, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 18; Nakina (drive-thru), Bug Hill Senior Center, 11300 NC 905, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 23; Bolton, Goshen Medical Center, 213 Ninth Street, 1 to 4 p.m., June 11.
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.
