First coronavirus outbreak reported in Wake County nursing home
The first outbreak of coronavirus cases at a Wake County long-term care facility has been reported as COVID-19 spreads throughout nursing homes and similar facilities across the state.
Four people tested positive for COVID-19 at Wellington Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Knightdale, according to a Wake County news release.
The cases include two patients and two nurses, the county said. The patients are at WakeMed Hospital, the release said.
“We’re concerned about the potential for COVID-19 to spread rapidly among residents at the facility, because many of the residents are older and have additional health conditions that put them at risk of serious illness if they contract the virus,” said Wake County Medical Director Dr. Kim McDonald in the news release.
The announcement comes as nursing homes across the Triangle are reporting large numbers of cases, from at least 60 cases at a facility in Orange County to 33 at a nursing center in Franklin County.
Late Thursday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper issued a new executive order that includes new mandatory requirements for long-term care facilities. They include stopping group meals and activities; screening employees before they enter the building; and increasing the monitoring of residents’ temperatures.
Wellington Rehabilitation has 80 beds. Wake County Public Health will test all patients and staff members who came into close contact with the people affected. It will take seven to 10 days to get the results, the release says.
The Wake County Emergency Operations Center spoke with the facility’s operators Thursday night, according to the news release. In addition to following county and state protocols, employees are not allowed to work second jobs at other locations.
Coronavirus cases spread in long-term care facilities
As of April 9 at 6:30 p.m.:
▪ At least 60 people at PruittHealth-Carolina Point in Orange County, both patients and staff, have tested positive. Two patients have died, according to Orange County. Three people have tested positive at Signature HealthCARE at Chapel Hill.
▪ At least 50 people tested positive at Pinehurst Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Moore County. The county’s health department tested all 96 residents and the center’s 115-person staff. Of those 96 residents, 45 tested positive for the illness caused by the coronavirus. Five staff members also tested positive, according to the Moore County Health Department.
▪ Springbrook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Clayton reports 26 cases — 20 residents and six staff members, according to the Johnston County Health Department.
▪ Chatham County reported four cases at the Laurels of Chatham Skilled Nursiing and Rehabilitation in Pittsboro.
▪ Louisburg Nursing Center in Franklin County reports 30 residents and three staff members have tested positive, according to the county health department. The facility has 61 residents.
