Morganton nursing home gives COVID-19 survivors ‘red carpet treatment'

MORGANTON, N.C. — It was once considered the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Burke County, but now Grace Center Health and Rehabilitation is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate the recovery of dozens of patients.

All morning Tuesday, families were able to drive up to the main entrance of the Morganton nursing home to see their family members.

Since the outbreak started, 89 people have been infected and 13 deaths have been linked back to the center.

The patients who survived coronavirus got the “red carpet” treatment and were greeted by cheers from health care workers who cared for them.

They also who shirts that said “Keep Calm, I Survived COVID-19″ and could see their family members without having to look through windows or talk with them by phone.

Fifty-seven of the residents, along with 32 staff members contracted COVID-19 since the beginning of March.

Channel 9 learned Grace Heights isolated patients who had the virus in one of the wings of the nursing home. Some of the elderly patients who tested positive were asymptomatic and never showed any signs of illness.

Reporter Dave Faherty spoke with several family members who said they relied on their faith to get through this.

Five generations celebrate woman's 100th birthday outside Morganton nursing home Five generations celebrate woman's 100th birthday outside Morganton nursing home

“We stood on our faith and I didn’t have any doubt that she was going to be fine,” David Coomer said. “And, so I wasn’t scared. We stood on our faith and Psalm 91.”

We learned that two of the employees at the nursing home did have to be hospitalized after getting COVID-19.

The last resident tested positive two weeks ago.

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