May 11. Four Nursing Wing residents of The Pines at Davidson have tested positive for COVID-19. One is receiving care at a hospital, according to Steven Jewell, president and executive director of The Pines.

The Pines at Davidson has 400 senior residents on a 140-acre campus in a variety of living settings ranging from apartments to cottages.

Nursing homes and senior living complexes have suffered an outsize proportion of COVID-19 deaths in the US, according to data gathered by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Additional testing is under way at The Pines and may include some additional positive results, Jewell said.

“The contagious nature of COVID-19 is so aggressive, even with the rigorous infection control procedures we have implemented, additional spread is not unexpected,” Jewell said.

Of the three additional residents who tested positive, none had symptoms when tested, he added.

One was later transferred to a local hospital for treatment. The other two residents remain in an isolated area in the Nursing Wing to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other residents, Jewell said.

The unit is equipped with a comprehensive array of protective equipment including respirator masks, face shields and gowns.

“These individuals may be transferred soon to a special COVID-19 wing at Huntersville Oaks, which is intensely focused and equipped to care for patients with this virus,” Jewell said.

The wing is managed by Atrium Health physicians, including Dr. Deanna Mangieri who oversees Atrium Health Senior Care at The Pines.

Atrium Health is providing diagnostic testing of all staff who have been in the Nursing and Assisted Living wings since April 23.

“We have received confirmation that one of these staff members has tested positive for the virus (despite having no symptoms at work), and the individual is currently convalescing at home under a physician’s care,” Jewell said.