COVID-19 claims more lives in Columbus, Horry; CC Health Department offers free testing Friday

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     COVID-19 has claimed two lives in Columbus County in the past week, two more in Horry in the past two days, as coronavirus cases continue to climb.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• Two COVID deaths, 262 new cases in a week in Columbus
• Two Horry coronavirus deaths in two days

Two COVID deaths, 262 new cases in a week in Columbus

     Two more Columbus County residents have died of COVID-19 associated illness in the week since the last pandemic report was issued by the Columbus County Health Department, with 262 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed, Monday’s update said.

     Those deaths took place last Tuesday and today (Monday), the health department reported, and both involved individuals who were in a hospital.

     A review of case numbers has resulted in 31 being removed from the county’s pandemic total “because they were determined to be duplicates or transferred to other counties,” the news release said.

     With the newly confirmed cases and the case adjustments the county has recorded 2,817 confirmed COVID-19 cases during the pandemic.

     “Of the 262 new COVID-19 cases, 144 can be attributed to correctional facilities and long-term care facilities in Columbus County,” the news release said.

     Tabor Correctional Institution has seen a significant COVID-19 outbreak during November, with 460 cases confirmed since the first of the month, the pandemic total of 561 unchanged since Saturday, state Department of Public Safety records show.

     Much smaller outbreaks have been reported at Columbus Correctional Institution and Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Whiteville.

     Currently 11 county residents are in the hospital with COVID-19 associated illness, the health department reported.

     Zip Code data updated daily by the NC Department of Health and Human Services indicated little change between Sunday and Monday in the county, but showed newly confirmed cases in the Tabor City area up from 911 to 914, with a single new case in Whiteville bringing that total to 786.

     Free testing Friday: Free drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing will be available at the Columbus County Health Department in Whiteville between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, by appointment only. For an appointment call 910-640-6615 extension 7006 or 7007.

     3Ws: “The Columbus County Health Department is urging county residents to take the measures necessary to protect themselves, their families, and their community from COVID-19,” the news release said. “If you leave home, practice your Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Wait 6 feet apart and avoid close contact. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.”

     North Carolina reported 2,734 new COVID infections Monday, and 21 associated deaths, bringing those pandemic totals to 364,512 and 5,261 respectively. Statewide 1,966 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Monday, up by 81 from Sunday, and again setting a pandemic record for North Carolina.

Two Horry coronavirus deaths in two days

     Two more Horry County residents have succumbed to COVID-19 associated illness, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control reported in the past two days.

     Both were elderly individuals, one died on Nov. 14, the other Nov. 26, the DHEC data shows.

     During the same period 127 coronavirus infections involving Horry residents have been confirmed, 45 reported Sunday, 82 on Monday. Three of the new COVID cases are from the Loris Zip Code, one from Green Sea.

     Pandemic totals reported by DHEC Monday include 13,589 confirmed COVID cases for Horry County, 230 associated deaths, with 750 reported cases in the Loris Zip Code, 78 in Green Sea.

     South Carolina has recorded 203,659 COVID cases during the pandemic, 4,077 deaths, those numbers up by 1,174 and 27 respectively since Sunday.

     Statewide 925 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Monday, that number up by 46 from Sunday.

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.