A Carolina Village resident who likely contracted COVID-19 while in the hospital for pneumonia treatment was the county’s first fatality from the virus.

The independent living resident, who is not being identified to protect the family’s privacy, went to a local hospital for pneumonia treatment March 21.

“While in the hospital, according to the acting physician, the resident was just a few doors down from a COVID-19 positive patient and received care from the same nurse,” Kevin Parries, executive director of Carolina Village, said in a statement on the Village’s website.

On March 25, the resident was admitted into Carolina Village’s Medical Center. The resident was kept in isolation and monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.

On April 1, the patient’s condition changed and he or she was taken back to the hospital to be tested for coronavirus.

The test came back as positive the next day, as the resident’s health continued to decline.

The resident’s spouse, who had not been able to see the patient since the first hospitalization, was allowed to visit. The patient died late that night.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends during this difficult time,“ Parries said in the statement.

“Please understand that while we usually honor residents who have passed with a single red rose in a communal area, we will instead honor this resident in our own, personal ways.

“We will honor this person by staying away from communal areas right now, for the greater community. We will honor this person by telling those close to us what they mean to us with a pen and paper or an email instead of a hug. We will honor this person by understanding just how precious life is, in our tight-knit community and beyond.“

Parries said Carolina Village went into immediate action once the test result came back as positive, working with Henderson County Public Health, the Village’s medical director and the resident’s personal physician.

“We have contacted all employees who came into contact with the resident, all of whom are now closely monitoring their condition for the 14-day incubation period.”

The statement also says it’s not believed that anyone in the Independent Living area has been exposed.