SC to test every nursing home resident, staff member in the state for COVID-19
South Carolina health regulators say they will test every nursing home resident and staff member in the state by the end of the month as part of the state’s efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Part of an overall goal to double testing for the virus in the state this month alone, the plan to test all 40,000 residents and staff members in the state’s 194 long-term care facilities is being done in conjunction with LabCorp, officials from the Department of Health and Environmental Control told The State on Wednesday.
“We think we can make a big impact on our case count as well as our deaths in the state by focusing on this vulnerable population,” said Jennifer Read, the DHEC chief of staff.
Nursing homes will receive kits for skilled nursing staff to take swabs of residents and employees. LabCorp will pick up the samples, run the tests and report the results back to DHEC.
The state health agency wants to double testing in the state this month.
DHEC’s plan is part of an overall statewide effort to sharply increase the amount of testing being performed. The agency wants to test a total of 220,000 people this and next month. In addition to nursing homes, the agency will target rural, minority and high risk urban communities.
The plan targets a population in community settings who are more vulnerable to have complications with COVID-19.
People who live in long term care facilities have accounted for 12% of the confirmed coronavirus cases in South Carolina and 28% of the deaths.
The testing push comes as health officials say the state’s coronavirus cases have plateaued.
Testing in those facilities allows for those residents who test positive to be isolated into specific wings away from other residents, as well as to make sure specific staff members take care of those patients.
As of Tuesday, 6,841 people in the state have tested positive for the disease. However, only 447 people are currently in the hospital because of they tested positive for COVID-19 or are suspected of having the disease.
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 12:38 PM.
