More employees at SC hospital test positive for coronavirus, officials say
One of the largest hospital systems in South Carolina announced more of its employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) said Wednesday that 38 people who work at the hospital’s facilities in Charleston have tested positive for COVID-19.
That’s a rise in the number of MUSC employees with the coronavirus since Monday.
MUSC’s update came on the same day that Prisma Health, the largest hospital system in South Carolina, confirmed to The State that four of its health care workers have had a “work exposure” to COVID-19. All four are in the Midlands and none are in the Upstate, where Prisma operates another set of hospitals.
Information on employees at other MUSC facilities in Florence, Marion,Chester and Lancaster was not available.
There was no word if the employees are being treated at the hospital, or if they are self quarantining.
“The safety of our care team remains of utmost importance to us,” MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said in a news release. “It is clear in many cases that our care team members who tested positive for COVID-19 acquired from community and travel transmission.”
Overall, MUSC reported it has performed 4,028 physical tests for the coronavirus, and 217 have been positive. That includes the employees, as well as five patients admitted to the hospital for treatment. The other 174 people testing positive for COVID-19 are classified as outpatient status, according to the release.
Officials said MUSC employees aren’t allowed to go to work if they have COVID-19-like respiratory symptoms, or if they haven’t completed the testing process after a high-risk exposure to the coronavirus — in or outside of work.
“MUSC Health has a very conservative COVID-19 specific return to work policy for health care workers that goes beyond CDC guidelines to protect our patients, families and other care team members,” Woolwine said. “Many of our care team members have fared well and recovered quickly.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Also on Wednesday, a dozen people tested positive for the coronavirus at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, said Andy Lyons, a spokesman for the Charleston hospitals.
The hospital has reported 65 positive tests overall, Lyons said. Five of the confirmed COVID-19 patients have been admitted for treatment, and the rest have been instructed to self-isolate at home.
Since early March, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported there have been 190 positive COVID-19 tests in Charleston County, the most of any county in South Carolina. One person died after testing positive in Charleston County, according to DHEC.
A stay at home ordinance was approved in the city of Charleston last week in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
On Wednesday, 210 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 1,293 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 43 counties, according to DHEC.
Of the news cases announced Wednesday, 48 were in Charleston County.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 26 in less than a month. State health officials described 25 of the people as elderly, one person was middle-aged, and all but two had underlying medical conditions.
There have been 5,033 negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Thursday morning, 951,901 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 48,284 people have died, while 195,929 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 216,722 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 5,137 deaths have been reported, including 1,374 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
