Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Jan. 11
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
DHEC: Case count low due to ‘internal systems error’
At least 326,588 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina since March, and 5,315 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported 2,644 new COVID-19 cases, down from 3,667 reported the day before. Due to an “internal systems issue,” the figures presented Monday are lower than the true number of new cases and deaths, DHEC officials said.
Fourteen deaths were reported Monday.
As of Monday, 25.9% of COVID-19 tests in the state were positive. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5%.
At least 2,387 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with the coronavirus Monday.
USC begins new semester, wary of COVID
In-person classes resumed Monday at the University of South Carolina, and the university discussed its strategies to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks for the spring semester, The State reported.
“We’ve learned valuable lessons since last March, and I thank each of you for demonstrating your commitment to the health and safety of our university community by testing often, maintaining physical distancing and wearing face coverings,” USC President Robert Caslen said in a message to students.
A maximum of 100 students can be in a classroom, faculty can choose whether to work remotely, masks must be worn in every building, staff will be cleaning and disinfecting any object that can be physically touched, and anyone who works or studies on campus must provide monthly coronavirus test results.
“Even as we hopefully anticipate widespread vaccine administration this year, we cannot become complacent,” Caslen’s letter said.
Residents 70 and up can soon schedule vaccination appointment
South Carolina residents 70 years and up will be able to schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Wednesday, The State reported.
Previously, the state’s seniors were supposed to start receiving vaccinations later in the winter, but state health authorities have changed plans in an effort to speed up the rollout process.
“When evaluating supply versus demand and as the rate of vaccines coming into the state increases compared to the rate of appointments being scheduled, we believe it is appropriate to begin scheduling appointments for additional South Carolinians,” said Brannon Traxler, interim director of public health for the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
While this group may soon schedule appointments, it isn’t clear when residents 70 and older will actually get their first shots.
To schedule an appointment, call DHEC’s Care Line at 1-855-472-3432, or use the agency’s online portal.
More health care workers refuse, defer vaccine than expected
South Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccination rate ranks 47th in the country, and health care workers hesitant about receiving the vaccine have contributed to the slow pace.
The South Carolina Hospital Association, which advocates on behalf of the state’s hospital systems, is pushing for relaxed vaccination guidelines partly because hospitals are struggling to find enough frontline workers who want to get the shot, The State reports.
Fewer than than 71,000 of the 350,000 South Carolina residents who fall into Phase 1a, which includes frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff, had received a first dose of the vaccine as of Friday, according to the DHEC. Another 84,000 had scheduled an appointment.
Schipp Ames, a spokesman for the hospital group, told The State that hospitals had asked that the DHEC allow them to start vaccinating people outside their own health systems after discovering vaccine vials often contained more doses than originally thought and that fewer eligible people than expected wanted to be vaccinated.
“During the past few weeks, many individuals meeting Phase 1a criteria have refused to receive the vaccine or have asked to defer their opportunity to receive it until a later date,” Ames said.
This story was originally published January 11, 2021 at 6:50 AM.
