Coronavirus cases in nursing homes and long-term care institutions in South Carolina are corresponding to the general increase in the incidence of the disease in centers across the country. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 11,100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in 408 separate outbreaks between employees and residents in South Carolina alone.
The increase is related to the general increase in cases among the general population, experts say.
Meanwhile, SC Attorney General Alan Wilson said on Tuesday that he had contacted someone who tested positive for COVID-19, so he will be quarantined and will work from home for two weeks. He said he feels good and has no symptoms, but is in compliance with the CDC guidelines.
In addition to the 1,524 deaths among long-term residents, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed 24 cases of employees who died from the new coronavirus.
In total, 7,224 residents of long-term care facilities tested positive for the virus, along with 3,948 employees, according to DHEC.
According to the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, South Carolina is not alone. Data released by Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show that, with the increase in new COVID cases in the general US population, weekly cases of nursing homes are also increasing.
According to Johns Hopkins, new weekly cases of COVID in the general US population increased 140 percent to 572,613,527 new cases in the week of November 1. A similar increase in new cases in nursing homes occurred when cases in the neighboring community started to increase in mid-September.
“Trying to protect nursing home residents without controlling the spread of the community is a losing battle,” said Tamara Konetzka, a nationally recognized expert in long-term care at the University of Chicago, recently.
State figures
New cases reported: 1,088, which is 589 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closing of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 186,528, plus 11,372 probable cases
New reported deaths: 11
Total deaths in SC: 3,884 confirmed, 272 likely
Total tests in SC: 2,371,056
Hospitalized patients: 800
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 14.9 percent. Five percent of tests or less returning positive results is a good sign that the spread of the virus is slowing, say the researchers.
Most affected areas
South Carolina’s top counties for new coronavirus cases on Tuesday were 167, Greenville; York, 118; and Horry, 85.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County reported 45 new cases, Berkeley reported 21 and Dorchester reported 17.
Deaths
Of the 11 new deaths that DHEC reported on Tuesday, one was a young adult between the ages of 18 and 34 and three were middle-aged patients aged 35 to 64. The rest were elderly patients aged 65 and over.
They lived in Aiken, Chesterfield, Florence, Lexington, Marlboro, Newberry, Oconee, Richland, Sumter and York counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, 224 were in intensive care and 106 were on ventilators.
How many cases were found in long-term care facilities?
There were 11,172 confirmed cases of coronavirus in nursing homes and assisted living facilities: 7,224 residents and 3,948 employees, according to DHEC data.
So far, 1,524 residents have died from the virus, a mortality rate of 21 percent. Twenty-four workers also died. Together, they account for 40 percent of deaths in the state, the data released on Tuesday show.
Of the 685 installations monitored by DHEC, the virus was found in 408. There are active outbreaks in 122 of them.
Some type of visitation – internal, external or both – is allowed in 473 installations; 180 do not allow; and 32 did not report.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions such as the use of masks or other facial covers, social distance and frequent hand washing.
They also recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed to the virus or who are developing symptoms get tested. Those who live in the community or cannot socially distance themselves should be tested monthly, DHEC advised.
Go to scdhec.gov/findatest to find a test site in your area.
Talk to Sara Coello at 843-937-5705 and follow her on Twitter @smlcoello.