State health officials report 6 Lexington County nursing homes have suffered 7 deaths and 52 positive covid-19 cases.

The cases and deaths are among residents and staff members.

Heritage at Lowman in White Rock reported 31 cases and 3 deaths.

Lexington Medical Center Extended Care in Lexington reported 11 cases and 2 deaths.

Millennium Post Acute Re habilitation in West Columbia reported 6 cases and 1 death.

Presbyterian Communities in Lexington reported 1 case and 1 death.

Oakleaf Village in Lexington reported 2 cases but no deaths.

Rapha Residential Care in Gaston reported 1 case but no deaths.

To respect the privacy of the families, no names were revealed.

The complete statewide Department of Health & Environmental Control list is at https://scdhec.gov/sites/ default/files/media/document/LTCF_Final_HTD_04 .

DHEC officials say they prioritize the identification of covid-19 infections in nursing homes and assisted living and extended care facilities because the spread of respiratory illnesses is common there.

Their residents are at high risk for developing complications or die from infection.

DHEC is providing twice weekly updates on the names of facilities that have a confirmed case or death from covid-19.

DHEC is continuing its partnership with nursing homes across the state to help with infection control practices to protect residents and their caregivers.