Coronavirus outbreak hits nursing home, rehab facility in Garner
A Garner nursing home is the latest congregate living facility in the Triangle to have a reported COVID-19 outbreak.
According to a Wake County press release, The Laurels of Forest Glenn, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, reported a coronavirus outbreak at 1101 Hartwell Street. It’s unclear how many cases have been reported at the facility or if those who tested positive were residents or employees.
“COVID-19 can spread quickly when people live close to each other, as they do in long-term care facilities,” Wake County medical director Dr. Kim McDonald said in the release. “Quick action can slow the spread of the virus, and we’re working closely with The Laurels of Forest Glenn to protect their residents and staff.”
COVID-19 outbreaks have been widespread at congregate living facilities such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services defines an outbreak at a long-term care facility as two or more positive cases. .
There was an uptick in the number of positive confirmed cases reported Thursday by the state DHHS. It announced 1,133 new cases and 21,270 completed coronavirus tests, with a 9% positive rate.
There now have been 48,188 reported cases of coronavirus and 693,678 tests done in the state, which has a population of about 10.5 million people.
In Wake County, there have been 3,385 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 43 deaths. That was an increase of 144 new cases — but no additional deaths — in the 24-hour reporting period.
The county recommends that, in addition to adhering to the state’s order preventing outside visitation, facilities follow its guidelines, which include:
Ensuring staff wear the appropriate personal protective equipment at all times;
Restricting employees from working at other locations;
Practicing social distancing when possible;
Frequently cleaning surfaces with disinfectant; and
Restricting visitors.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Coronavirus outbreak hits nursing home, rehab facility in Garner."
