Becky Morton visits her mom Louise Knox, 95, at Autumn Care

May 15. By Dave Yochum. It looks like the outbreak of COVID-19 is under control at Autumn Care in Cornelius. There have been no new deaths among residents since the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services reported a total of 18 dead a week ago today.

On April 27, there were only 10 deaths at Autumn Care, a private business that has a ground lease on part of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church senior campus on Zion Avenue.

Nevertheless, Autumn Care accounts for 29 percent off all COVID-19 deaths in the county, regardless of age or whether they occurred in congregate living settings, like nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The new NCDHHS did report a small increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among both Autumn Care patients and staff. The report was issued at 4 pm today.

The NCDHHS reports a total of 43 cases among Autumn Care residents and 24 among staff. That’s up from 40 residents and 23 staff one week ago.

Autumn Care officials have not responded for comment.

There is a smaller outbreak under way at The Pines at Davidson. NCDHHS reports four cases among staff and five COVID-19 cases among residents. There have been no deaths.

Staff members are under a doctor’s care and in self-isolation, said Steven Jewell, executive director of The Pines.

Statewide there have been 338 COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, according to new information from the NCDHHS.

Autumn Care has one of the 10 highest death counts among about 75 nursing homes reporting COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.

COVID-19 can strike people at any age, but it more frequently causes death among those over 65 years.

Becky Morton, who visits her 95-year-old mother at Autumn Care from outside her window, said COVID patients have been moved to their own wing.

Employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said staff were sent among the different wings known as neighborhoods.