As COVID-19 spread slows in Horry, these area nursing homes haven't avoided outbreaks

Sep. 1--The spread of the coronavirus has slowed in Horry County, but some area nursing homes haven't been able to escape outbreaks among the most vulnerable populations, data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control shows.

Across nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Horry County, 38 residents and 26 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last 30 days, with two residents dying of the virus, according to data kept by DHEC. Many of these facilities are seeing worse numbers in the last month than in the first several months of the pandemic combined.

Daily cases have been on the decline in Horry County recently, with more residents wearing masks in public under the various mask mandates throughout the county. In June, cases were surging in the county; it wasn't uncommon to see more than 100 new cases announced per day. The latest numbers have hovered between 20-50 cases per day, showing a notable decline.

Reflections at Carolina Forest, NHC HealthCare Garden City, Conway Manor and Carolina Gardens at Conway have reported the highest case numbers in the county over the last 30 days, DHEC reports.

Reflections at Carolina Forest (219 Middleburg Dr., Myrtle Beach) reported seven resident cases, three staff cases and one death of a resident, all of which took place in the last 30 days, DHEC data shows. Chelsea Jordan, the facility's executive director, said there aren't any current positive cases, but employees and residents are still taking precautions and getting tested every two weeks.

"So we've been able to weather it pretty well, but unfortunately we have had some COVID patients," Jordan said

At NHC HealthCare Garden City (9405 Hwy. 17 Byp., Murrells Inlet), 13 residents and three staff members have tested positive. This continues a trend of the center reporting some of the top numbers in the county -- in July, the center reported 12 resident cases and 11 staff cases, The Sun News reported. A statement on the center's website says precautions are in place according to recommendations from public health officials.

"We will follow our standard procedures and notify you if your loved one has a change in condition," the statement reads.

Conway Manor (3300 4th Ave.) reported seven resident cases and two staff cases in the last 30 days, with one virus-related death of a resident, DHEC reports. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the facility has reported 37 resident cases, 11 staff cases and five deaths from the virus. The facility is monitoring the spread among residents and staff, even as cases decline in the state and county, according to a statement on the facility's website from administrator James R. Wooddell and director of nursing Christine Flansburg.

"Although we are taking every precaution possible to ensure that residents and staff remain safe and COVID free, we continue to look at the frequency and monitoring of our residents as well as staff," the statement reads. "We have literally been working around the clock to ensure your loved ones and our employees remain safe and COVID free and we stay in close communication with our local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the precautionary measures."

There were six resident cases and seven staff cases reported at Carolina Gardens at Conway (2310 US-378), which had avoided a large number of cases until this point in the pandemic. Only two staff cases were reported in the time period from March through July, DHEC data indicates. Administrator Miranda Franks said the facility analyzed its coronavirus policy and upped its level of precautions. Now, the building is fully disinfected twice per day and residents are screened three times per day, along with being tested once a week. Staff members are also tested weekly.

"Of course we're continuing to take precautions to keep our residents and staff safe," Franks said.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have been forced to navigate unique hurdles amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials have maintained that the elderly population and those with pre-existing health conditions are most susceptible to infection, and extra precautions should be taken to protect those who are most vulnerable.

Other area nursing homes reported cases, but seemingly managed to contain the spread. Compass Post Acute Rehabilitation in Conway reported three resident cases and two staff cases, an improvement from 16 resident cases and six staff cases in July. Last year, Compass was included in a list of nursing homes identified as needing federal oversight because of care issues, The Sun News reported.

Pruitt Health at Conway Medical Center has reported two resident cases and seven staff cases in August. Both Grand Strand Rehab and Nursing Center and St. Gabriel of Murrells Inlet reported only one staff case each.

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