Barbara Oxford and Becky Morton visit their mom Louise Knox, 95, outside her window at Autumn Care

April 27. By Dave Yochum. There have been 10 COVID-19 related deaths at Autumn Care in Cornelius, according to information released by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. It’s the third-highest death toll among dozens of nursing homes across the state.

Only Pruitt Health-Carolina Point, a nursing home in Orange County, with 11 deaths, and Louisburg Healthcare, a nursing home in Franklin County, with 14 deaths, had more deaths than Autumn Care, a private business which leases the property on Zion Avenue from Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

The Citadel at Salisbury, a nursing home in Rowan County, also reported 10 deaths, according to North Carolina data. Click here to view the NCDHHS list of long-term care facilities with cases and death counts.

JONATHAN MARLOWE

Rev. Jonathan Marlowe, co-senior pastor at Mt. Zion said he was very saddened to hear about the deaths of the residents at Autumn Care. “Our church continues to pray for them and their families. We have long-standing friendship with Autumn Care and have enjoyed being in ministry with them over the last five years.”

Up until now the Mecklenburg County Health Dept. was only reporting that there were more than two cases of COVID-19 infections —not deaths—at each of eight long-term care facilities in Mecklenburg.

Autumn Care was one of the eight. This afternoon, families were outside windows trying to communicate with their relatives inside.

Barbara Oxford and Becky Morton, daughters of Louise Knox, 95, said their mother has had the virus. They asked for prayers for her.

There are 53 cases of COVID-19 at Autumn Care. The Mecklenburg County Health Dept. is reporting only 46 to 59 cases in all of Cornelius.

“This is a community tragedy,” said Mayor Woody Washam. “I’m shocked and very saddened to hear that news.”

NCDHHS is updating COVID-19 outbreaks twice a week after criticism last week.

MAYOR WASHAM

There are a total of 17 dead at long-term care facilities in Mecklenburg; 10 of them are in Cornelius.

“As this pandemic continues to evolve, we continually reassess the appropriateness of data reporting to balance transparency, public health and individual privacy,” NCDHHS said.

Atrium Health has transferred COVID patients to its Huntersville Oaks long-term care facility, but the Huntersville ZIP code, which represents nearly twice as many residents as Cornelius, has only 21 to 45 COVID-19 cases, according to MCPH.

The NCDHHS did not report any deaths at Huntersville Oaks.

There are eight long-term care facilities actively experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, based on the CDC definition of an outbreak which is more than two lab-confirmed cases.

“Our prayers certainly go up for all who are going through grief at this time,” Marlowe said.

The following facilities have been affected in Mecklenburg County (no deaths unless noted):

Hunter Woods Nursing & Rehab Center
620 Tom Hunter Rd., Charlotte 28213

Huntersville Oaks
10219 Verhoeff Dr., Huntersville 28078

Pavillion Health Center—3 deaths
10011 Providence Rd. W, Charlotte 28277

Autumn Care of Cornelius
19530 Mt. Zion Ave., Cornelius 28031

The Social at Cotswold—3 deaths
3610 Randolph Rd., Charlotte 28211

Carrington Place Rehab & Living Center—1 death
600 Fullwood Ln., Matthews 28105

The Laurels
13180 Dorman Rd., Pineville 28134

Charlotte Square
5820 Carmel Rd Charlotte, NC 28226

COVID-19 deaths by age as reported by NCDHHS