Coronavirus: 2 unvaccinated workers from same Georgia day care die of COVID-19 on same day

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. — Two co-workers at a Statesboro, Georgia, day care were found dead from COVID-19 at their respective homes on Sunday.

Bulloch County Deputy Coroner Richard Pylant confirmed the deaths and told WSB-TV that both Manequeia Freeman and Leslia McClain were unvaccinated.

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According to The Herald in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the women, who both worked for Sugar and Spice Child Care about 55 miles northwest of Savannah in Bulloch County, were both found by family members.

It remained unclear Thursday if either woman had any underlying medical conditions, and their ages have not been released, The Herald reported.

Pylant confirmed to WSB-TV that both women had been dead for at least a day when their bodies were discovered. Meanwhile, a third unvaccinated Sugar and Spice employee is currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and a vaccinated fourth was diagnosed with the virus but recovering and expected back at work soon, he said.

According to The New York Times’ COVID-19 tracker, Bulloch County averages 124 new COVID-19 cases per day, representing an 89% increase from two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, CovidActNow.org reports that only 26% of Bulloch County residents are fully vaccinated, compared with 43% statewide. Half of eligible Georgia residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

More than 7,400 new COVID-19 cases and 90 deaths were reported Thursday, according to Georgia Department of Public Health data.

Statesboro leaders approved a measure earlier this week to offer $10,000 in incentives to encourage more COVID-19 vaccinations, WJCL-TV reported.

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