Hundreds of COVID cases reported across central NC nursing homes

O'Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center in Wayne County is reporting the largest ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in central North Carolina, according to data released Tuesday by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. An outbreak is defined by the state as two or more coronavirus cases detected in the same facility within 28 days.

The state data showed 193 cases and one death are tied to the ongoing outbreak at the Wayne County treatment facility.

“We have been working closely with long term care facilities across the state to encourage booster shots for both residents and staff," said Kody Kingsley, incoming director for the NC DHHS. "We are ensuring each facility has easy access to vaccinations and a ready partner to administer those critical shots.”

Carolina Rehab Center of Cumberland County also has a significantly high number of coronavirus cases, according to state data released this week. The report shows that 87 people have tested positive, most of them being residents. So far, two residents have died from the virus during the outbreak, state data shows.

WRAL News tried multiple ways on Wednesday to get in touch with management at Carolina Rehab Center, tracking them down by phone in Virginia and even paying a visit to the facility, but no one was available to comment.

One employee, a person who has recovered from COVID-19, agreed to speak to WRAL News so long as we didn't use their name.

"These are people's homes," the employee said, "And I am going to let you know, they are not being treated right."

The employee said conditions inside the center make it easy for COVID to spread.

"It's really bad. The place is not being deep cleaned or sanitized," the employee said.

Residents who are coming to visit patients are being allowed to visit people who are known to have tested positive for the virus, according to that employee.

The number of coronavirus cases in North Carolina rose by nearly 70% from Tuesday to Wednesday and 50 new people died. WRAL Data Trackers say it is typical to see a spike in cases on Wednesday because more people are getting tested Monday and get their results back on Wednesday — but Wednesday's spike is higher than anything North Carolina has seen since Oct. 1.