County rumored to have 1st coronavirus death
Despite a depleted staff and a serious COVID-19 outbreak, the owners of Graham Healthcare & Rehabilitation denied the state’s offer for help.
Local officials confirm that constant contact has been kept between the Graham County Health Department and state epidemiology office, concerning the virus’ mark on both the county and at the long-term facility on Snowbird Road. The state extended an offer last week to send a “strike force” to the nursing home to help with staffing and care.
But Granite Falls LTC – a Kinston-based limited liability company and owners of Graham Healthcare & Rehabilitation – reportedly turned down the state’s offer for help. A phone call to the company’s vice president for comment was not returned by The Graham Star’s press deadline Wednesday.
County officials stressed that the decision was not made by Graham Healthcare & Rehabilitation staff, who have been working tirelessly to manage the pandemic since it first swept through the facility two weeks ago.
The county reported Tuesday that 37 residents and 18 staff members had tested positive. It was noted that six of the staff members live outside Graham.
The Graham County Health Department also stated Tuesday that it received a report of a possible coronavirus-related death, which would be the first for the county. Confirmation from the physician had not been received by press time.
Graham’s case count jumped from 81 on Sept. 8 to 115 on Tuesday. The N.C. Department of Health & Human Services’ website reported that Graham had 119, but county Health Director Beth Booth confirmed that his staff is working with the state to iron out discrepancies in reporting.
Not withstanding, the 115 cases was ahead of Madison (85), Mitchell (99), Clay (103), Camden (107) and Gates (108) counties Tuesday morning. Yancey County had 116.
Graham County’s weekly gender and age breakdown released Saturday attributed 33 percent of confirmed cases to the 25-49 age group, while 65-74 made up 20 percent and 50-64 accounted for 19 percent. Those ages 75 and older were 18 percent.
Of the county residents with positive tests, 51 percent were men, 45 percent were women and 4 percent were marked “unknown.”