Coronavirus Deaths in Orange County Nursing Homes Reach 40

Two Orange County nursing homes have a combined 40 deaths among residents after combating COVID-19 for nearly two months.

Reports from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday showed the death count for PruittHealth- Carolina Point and Signature HealthCARE in Orange County to be 20 each. The number of positive cases also continues to rise, with 112 total cases reported for PruittHealth – Carolina Point and 72 reported for Signature HealthCARE. All the deaths for both long-term care facilities have been residents and not staff.

These totals indicate a slower increase since the state began reporting individual case numbers for long-term care facilities on April 28. At that time, the facilities were reporting 160 combined cases, with 108 coming from PruittHEALTH and 52 coming from Signature HealthCARE.

While Orange County is reporting 40 deaths, this does not mean all the county’s deaths have come from the congregate living facilities. The state’s reporting on nursing homes does not take into account what county the patients are from, according to Orange County Health Department officials.

A third Orange County long-term care facility has also reported positive cases, but has yet to record a death. As of Tuesday’s update, Parkview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Chapel Hill is reporting two staff cases and two resident cases.

Orange County first alerted the public of the novel coronavirus’ presence at nursing homes in the community on April 2. PruittHealth – Carolina Point, which is located on the Durham-Orange County line off Mt. Sinai Road, experienced two positive cases, according to a county release. Signature HealthCARE, located on East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, reported three of its own cases shortly after. The county’s first death, a PruittHealth – Carolina Point resident, was recorded on April 9.

Chatham County is reporting 26 deaths from two long-term care facilities within the county, while Durham County is reporting 38 from three.

To follow the overall Orange County COVID-19 case count, as well as across the state, visit the Chapelboro Coronavirus Tracker web page.

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