The elderly in Greenwood are taking extra precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19.
Nursing homes have closed their doors to outside visitors, and the elderly living by themselves have been urged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay at home as much as possible to avoid the virus.
“I know one thing: It kills people. And the other thing is it’s highly contagious. And the third thing is I wish people would stay at home instead of spreading it everywhere,” said Gay White, 79, who lives in an apartment in the Golden Age complex.
According to the CDC, older adults are more at risk of becoming severely ill if infected with COVID-19.
Four Leflore County residents have died from the coronavirus, and 43 people have been infected. Details about the most recent death are scarce since it apparently occurred outside of the county. However, the three previous COVID-19 deaths involved people in their 60s or 70s who had other health complications, according to Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Statewide, there have been 2,469 cases of the coronavirus and 82 deaths, according to an update released Friday morning by the Mississippi Department of Health.
Most people who get COVID-19 will only deal with mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, which clear up in two to three weeks. For older adults and those with underlying health problems, COVID-19 can cause pneumonia and even lead to death.
Eighty-seven percent of those in the state who have died were at least 60 years old.
In addition, 47 nursing homes, including Golden Age in Greenwood, have had an outbreak of COVID-19, which the Health Department defines as at least one case of the virus. The lone infected resident at Golden Age was put in isolation and still was showing no symptoms as of Thursday.
White has hunkered down at her apartment, which is near the Golden Age nursing home, during the pandemic.
She said she’s only gone out to get groceries at Walmart or Dollar General and to see her doctor for a heart test. When she’s out, she wears a mask she made herself.
“I’m scared to death of this stuff,” White said.
She’s kept herself busy by reading her Bible, brushing up on Bible lessons and calling her friends to see how they’re coping.
Staying home has had some social costs. For one, White can no longer go to Greenwood Leflore Hospital’s Wellness Center, where she would work out twice a week.
“My legs are cramping to death because I need to be on the machine out there. I miss socializing with people at the wellness center,” she said.
Worshipping on Easter Sunday won’t be the same either, since White’s church, St. John’s United Methodist, like other churches, has canceled in-person services.
“Easter is not Easter without going to church,” she said. “At St. John’s, we have beautiful services.”
She said members of St. John’s have remained in touch, and the pastor, the Rev. Scott Wright, has called to check in on her.
Henry Flautt and Virginia White Terry, residents at Indywood Glen Personal Care, both said they’re doing well.
“We have been isolated. We’ve not have anybody sick out here, and we’re trying to stay that way,” said Terry, who is 85.
She said residents can socialize on the front porch as long as they stay 6 feet apart.
Flautt, 86, said that Indywood is “very, very protective,” and the workers all wear masks.
Terry has spent her time doing crossword puzzles, watching TV and sorting out her summer clothes, among other activities.
Because guests are now prohibited, including those who would’ve entertained the residents and hosted activities, Terry said she’s been walking inside the facility to keep up with her exercise.
Flautt said he has been watching TV, reading and pondering his life, since being quarantined allows time for more reflection.
Before guest visits were canceled he would receive two or three visitors a week, he said.
Like White, he’s disappointed he can’t attend Easter services in person at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity.
He remains grateful about other things, though.
“I’m able to see the birds outside,” he said.
Terry likes that, too. “We’re just here watching the birds, sitting out front on the porch where it’s pretty,” she said.
•Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
