Woman dies from COVID-19 after nursing home outbreak

A resident at the Carolina Rehab Center in Cumberland County has died after contracting COVID-19 during a recent outbreak.

Barzora Hill, 86, tested positive for the virus while still at the Fayetteville rehab center and died right before Christmas on Dec. 20 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

According to data released by the state Department of Health and Human Services last week, 87 people connected to the facility tested positive during a recent coronavirus outbreak, most of them being residents. At least one other resident has died, DHHS data shows.

De'Vonn Hill said it was just a matter of time before his grandmother would get COVID-19. Employees who agreed to speak to WRAL News anonymously blamed the nursing home for not doing enough to limit the spread of the virus.

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

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

Barzora Hill called her daughter, Gina Hill, every day at 5:30 a.m.

"She would call, and say, 'Gina, wake up!'" Gina Hill said.

She got a call about two weeks ago from her mother and heard she was having a difficult time breathing. Then a couple days after that, Gina Hill got a shocking call from the nurse at the center saying her mother had tested positive for COVID-19.

"She said, 'Well, I'm sorry we didn't tell you. We've been so busy.' Her exact words was, 'COVID is popping up everywhere,'" Gina Hill said.

Gina Hill said she is probably still going to call her mom's phone every day.

"I know she's not going to answer, but it's just a routine," Gina Hill said.