Coronavirus
Coronavirus outbreak discovered at SC facility that treats disabled adults
A state-run facility that houses some of South Carolina’s intellectually disabled residents has seen an outbreak of the coronavirus among its patients and staff, according to an S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs spokesman.
The Pee Dee Regional Center, which is located in Florence, saw 43 positive COVID-19 patients by Friday, DDSN spokesman Robb McBurney said. Of those cases, 26 were staff and 17 were residents, and one of the residents have died.
The center houses adults that need constant care and assistance. It’s the only DDSN facility in which residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, McBurney said. Across the state, 28 DDSN staff have contracted the virus.
“In the past three weeks, Pee Dee Center has experienced a rise in positive cases as the Pee Dee area has had a rise in reported cases according to DHEC statistics,” McBurney said.
Florence County itself has been a hotspot for coronavirus cases, with 336 positive cases and 16 deaths as of Sunday. Florence County has the second highest per capita rate of infection in the state, according to data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Residents at the Pee Dee Regional Center began testing positive about three weeks ago, days after several staff members tested positive, McBurney said.
Residents at the facility are part of a “vulnerable population,” McBurney said, and “any illness such as COVID-19 needs to be treated as a serious condition. Seven of the residents have been hospitalized throughout the outbreak, McBurney said.
He added that most residents who contracted the virus have recovered or are on the road to recovery.
To combat the spread of the virus, DDSN began screening visitors on Feb. 27 and ended visitation on March 28. The facility has been following infection control regulations set forward by DHEC and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services. DDSN staff also made sure to clean the facility.
Staff members, who are required to wear masks at the facility, are screened daily, McBurney said. If a staff member shows COVID-19 symptoms, they are sent home.
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