‘Hope for the best’: Myrtle Beach neighborhood cautious after positive COVID-19 test
Residents of Myrtle Beach’s Cresswind development want people to know they are not pariahs or lepers.
Even with a neighbor testing positive for coronavirus.
“It’s not like we’re ‘The Colony,’” said Ruth Sebastiani. “I’d rather be honest.”
Sebastiani spoke as she strolled through the neighborhood with her two dogs, Eli and Bonnie, on Tuesday. Several residents confirmed a resident, who lives in the subdivision off Farrow Parkway tested positive for COVID-19.
Some Cresswind residents said they learned about the patient through a community email and the issue was discussed in Facebook communities.
Residents said they don’t know the person who tested positive with the disease, but were told the person used the subdivision’s community center earlier this month.
“We hope for the best, hopefully this will pass,” Sebastiani said.
Sebastiani described trying to live life just like any other Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, resident by being safe and taking care of herself. Other residents were cleaning their garages or bringing in groceries.
There were a few trips to the store in the past week, Sebastiani said. She even went last night, thinking she and her husband might need more laundry detergent if they have to stay inside for a lengthy period.
Her husband had an appointment on Tuesday and Sebastiani said the staff called to make sure they did not have contact with the coronavirus patient. Sebastiani said they did not, but would have understood if they wanted to cancel the appointment.
Fellow resident Jim Park unloaded groceries from his car as a case of paper towels sat on the golf cart in his garage. He said he has been to the grocery store a couple of times this week to get supplies.
With the disease impacting the area, Park said he was trying to play it safe and limit contact with others.
Linda and Bill Bigelow were in their garage and said they are ready for whatever happens with coronavirus. They have enough food to last for a month and already had a filter on their water tank.
“We feel like we’re ready,” Bill Bigelow said.
There is some concern having a patient in the community, Linda Bigelow said, but she just wants more information about the person. If they could even learn the gender, Linda Bigelow said, she would have a better idea of whether she had contact with the patient.
People need to listen to the scientists and do what they are told, Linda Bigelow said. If you are sick, then call your doctor and stay home.
“Two weeks out of someone’s life is not the end of the world,” she said.
