Feel like you just have allergies? SC DHEC says get tested for COVID-19
With South Carolina falling short of its COVID-19 testing goals, state health officials are urging more of the state’s residents to get tested for the coronavirus, even if they only have mild symptoms.
Legislators have called on DHEC to test 10% of the state population a month. However, daily testing totals have recently been on the decline, Brannon Traxler, a physician with DHEC, said Friday on a conference call with reporters.
The state averaged about 10,800 tests a day in July. However, in August that number declined, averaging 8,170 tests per day, and on some days, fewer than 3,900 tests results were reported.
DHEC encouraged people to get tested if they have symptoms, even if mild or if they think it’s just seasonal allergies, or if people have been exposed or are concerned they’ve been exposed.
The guidance is the same despite the Centers for Disease Control changing its guidance earlier this week on who should get tested for COVID-19. The CDC now says if someone has been exposed, but doesn’t have symptoms, the person does not “necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one.”
“If for any reason our recommendations changes, certainly we’ll make everyone aware,” Traxler said.
DHEC identifies mobile and permanent testing sites on its website. Health officials have scheduled more than 248 mobile testing events through Oct. 17, and set up 223 permanent testing locations throughout the state. To find a testing location, visit: scdhec.gov/covid19testing.
