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Some South Carolina nursing homes see improvement in COVID-19 cases

CHERAW, S.C. — Nursing homes have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The facilities have been closed to the public for months and barred family members from visiting loved ones.

However, there are signs that coronavirus outbreaks are less common.

Residents are recovering and staff members are going back to work.

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New cases of COVID-19 appear to be declining in nursing homes in South Carolina, officials said.

Early on, lawmakers said the state and others were not ready for the pandemic.

State Sen. Vincent Sheheen said mistakes were made.

"Our state department of health, our Department of Health and Environmental Control, was not prepared for this virus," Sheheen said.

The highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes have been reported in the last month in the Channel 9 South Carolina coverage area, according to DHEC.

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As of last week, the rehab center had a total of 24 residents and 25 staff members who tested positive for COVID-19.

DHEC said there have been five COVID-19 deaths there over the last 30 days.

However, the Rehab Center of Cheraw and other nursing homes are showing signs of recovery.

The Rehab Center of Cheraw didn't return calls to Channel 9 for comment.

The facility posts COVID-19 updates almost daily, along with letters to families with a weekly update.

As of June 10, the center said 14 staff members have recovered from the virus and returned to work.

There were 14 residents in the COVID-19 unit. Four of them are stable after being monitored for two weeks.

Sheheen said nursing homes appear to be turning the corner.

"We're seeing our nursing homes really adjust, and I feel like they are finally about where they need to be," he said.

There are similar positive signs in North Carolina. Last month, Channel 9 reported a high number of cases at Monroe Rehab.

There was an outbreak there with 76 COVID-19 cases. There were 19 staff members and 55 residents who tested positive for the virus, and six people died.

However, the last reported new case there was May 21. State officials declared the outbreak there to be over.

South Carolina is building a stockpile of supplies for COVID-19, such as personal protective equipment.

Lawmakers took a vote on Tuesday in support of the effort to make sure that happens.