High COVID trend continues in Horry; Chadbourn area sees four deaths; outbreak hasn’t ended at Loris Rehab

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Another day with newly confirmed COVID-19 infections well above 100 in Horry County came as state data showed four recent coronavirus deaths in the Chadbourn area.

     Meanwhile, a COVID outbreak at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center has slowed, but has not ended.

     This post will cover these topics and will be updated:

• Four deaths, another big COVID case jump in Horry
• Four Columbus deaths around Chadbourn
• Outbreak isn’t over at Loris Rehab

Four deaths, another big COVID case jump in Horry

     Another four Horry County residents have died from COVID-19 complications, while coronavirus infections have risen again by well more than 100, data from South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control Friday, the total nearing 1,700 in this pandemic.

     Three of those Horry COVID deaths were elderly individuals, one middle aged person died, DHEC reported.

     DHEC also issued a warning that COVID-19 is taking a growing toll on younger people, with 18.4 percent of cases involving men and women from 12 to 30 years of age, teens in another 7.0 percent of coronavirus cases.

     “The increases that we’re seeing serve as a warning that young adults and youth are not immune to COVID-19,” said DHEC physician consultant Dr. Brannon Traxler. “They also tell us that younger South Carolinians are not taking social distancing seriously.”

     DHEC data continues to be a bit confusing, with the number of new case counts often different than comparing day-to-day data and doing the math.

     A total of 1,697 Horry residents have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic again, 137 more than the 1,560 total reported by DHEC Thursday. However, DHEC reported 115 new cases in Horry County Friday.

     Two of those cases were apparently in the Loris Zip Code, that total rising to 175 in Friday’s data. Green Sea’s total rose by one to 13.

     Statewide South Carolina has recorded 22,608 COVID confirmed cases since the pandemic began, DHEC reported Friday, an increase of 1,075 from Thursday, with 639 people across the state who have died of the disease, 18 more than Thursday.

     A total of 660 Palmetto State residents were reported hospitalized for coronavirus complications Friday, an increase from 34 from Thursday.

Four Columbus deaths around Chadbourn

     While Columbus County is releasing COVID-19 data each Monday and Thursday, data from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services showed four recent deaths were in the Chadbourn Zip Code.

     DHHS data Friday showed the Chadbourn Zip Code with nine COVID deaths since the pandemic began, four more than was indicated Thursday.

     Zip Code data Friday showed two more Whiteville area residents infected with COVID-19, that total now 135; one additional case in both the Tabor City and Hallsboro areas, those totals now 104 and 31 respectively.

     Statewide: North Carolina has recorded 49,840 confirmed COVID cases since the pandemic began, Friday’s DHHS data showed, that total up by 1,652 from Thursday; with 1,197 deaths, 22 more than Thursday; and 871 COVID patients in the hospital, an increase of 14 from the previous day.

     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.

Outbreak isn’t over at Loris Rehab

     A stubborn COVID-19 outbreak at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center continued at a slow pace this week, DHEC data indicated Friday.

     One additional resident and one more staff member have been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus, the DHEC data showed, those totals now 56 and 25 respectively since the pandemic began.

     Eleven residents of the nursing have died of COVID complications, the data shows, the most recent reported June 12.

     Those improving numbers are encouraging, a statement from Loris Rehab parent company Wilson Senior care said Wednesday.

     “We are focusing on our recoveries as we have recently had 11 patients recover and move from our Isolation Unit to our step down units,” the statement said. “Wilson Senior Care also would like to thank all of the Healthcare Heroes at Loris Rehab & Nursing Center that continue to work the frontlines to provide quality care to our residents.”

     Testing of every resident and staff member at Loris Rehab was completed on May 18, Wilson reported.

     “We will continue doing everything we can to prevent the spread of this virus within our facility,” the Wilson statement said. “Most of our skilled nursing centers have remained free of any confirmed COVID-19 cases.

     “However, the highly contagious nature of this virus has made total containment a virtual impossibility. Any active cases of COVID-19 are transitioned to our Isolation Units where dedicated staff members equipped with full personal protective equipment provide care. The employees that tested positive for COVID-19 will not return to work until they have been cleared by their health care provider.”

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.