South Carolina Nursing Homes

DHEC released this week track the number of cases and deaths among residents and staff in South Carolina nursing homes. Nursing homes are required to report COVID-19 infections and deaths to DHEC since May 1, 2020. How many before May 1st?

DHEC warns that nursing home caregivers are at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19.  Of course, residents are high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from the virus. In total, 341 nursing home, rehab and community residential care facilities in South Carolina have reported positive cases of COVID-19, with 5,943 total cases and 821 deaths among residents and staff. Last month, Governor McMaster announced he’s delaying reopening nursing homes because of COVID-19.

The 5 facilities with the most reported deaths among their residents:

1. Sandpiper Rehab & Nursing (community residential care facility) – 1049 Anna Knapp Blvd Mt.Pleasant, SC 29464 – 27 deaths

2. Lexington Medical Center Extended Care (nursing home) – 815 Old Cherokee Rd, Lexington, SC 29072 – 26 deaths

3. Pruitt Health – Ridgeway (nursing home) – 213 Tanglewood Ct, Ridgeway, SC 29130 – 18 deaths

4. Magnolia Manor – Inman (nursing home) – 63 Blackstock Rd, Inman, SC 29349 – 17 deaths

5. NHC HealthCare Mauldin (nursing home) – 850 E Butler Rd, Greenville, SC 29607 – 16 deaths

6. Windsor Manor Nursing Home – 5583 Summerton Hwy, Manning, SC 29102 – 16 deaths

Top 5 in the Midlands:

1. Lexington Medical Center Extended Care (nursing home) – 815 Old Cherokee Rd, Lexington, SC 29072 – 26 deaths

2. Pruitt Health – Ridgeway (nursing home) – 213 Tanglewood Ct, Ridgeway, SC 29130 – 18 deaths

3. Windsor Manor Nursing Home – 5583 Summerton Hwy, Manning, SC 29102 – 16 deaths

4. NHC HealthCare Lexington (nursing home) – 2993 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169 – 15 deaths

5. Midlands Health and Rehabilitation Center (nursing home) – 1007 N Kings St, Columbia, SC 29223 – 12 deaths

SCDHEC claims that they have conducted in-person infection control surveys at all 194 licensed nursing homes. DHEC conducted these surveys between June and July.  Why are all the staff and residents still dying in South Carolina nursing homes?