COVID-19 vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on March 29
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Total cases surpass 464,000
At least 464,169 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 8,053 have died since last March, according state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported 499 new COVID-19 cases, down from 644 reported the day before.
Zero coronavirus-related deaths were also reported Monday.
At least 518 people were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state as of Monday.
As of Monday, 4.7% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 5% or lower means there is a low level of community spread.
More than 1.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in South Carolina as of Monday, and more than 669,000 people in the state have “completed vaccination” as of Friday.
Richland 1 coach dies of COVID complications
Damien Jackson, a coach and teacher at Dreher High School, has died due to COVID-19.
Jackson was a popular figure at the Richland 1 school. He coached girls’ track and field, was offensive coordinator for the football team, and also taught math at the junior and senior level, The State reported.
He had been hospitalized over coronavirus complications, Dreher HS principal Kevin Hasinger said in a message to parents, adding his “positive attitude and love for Dreher will be sorely missed.”
Administrators, coaches and teachers took to social media Monday, expressing support and offering condolences.
“Words (cannot) express our heartbreak,” Dreher High Athletics tweeted Monday afternoon. “Please pray for his family during this difficult time.”
Mask mandate ends for North Myrtle Beach
After a motion to extend the community’s state of emergency failed to pass in the city council, masks are no longer required to be worn in public spaces in North Myrtle Beach.
Only two city council members voted to extend the state of emergency, which expired on Sunday, The Sun News reported.
The council had previously done away with a requirement that masks be worn in restaurants, but up until Sunday, the rule still applied to places like grocery stores and other retail businesses.
Getting your COVID shot? Doctors discuss what to expect
With all South Carolina residents 16 years and older becoming eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine starting March 31, many may be wondering what to expect from the vaccine.
The Sun News spoke with doctors, who shared what they see as some of the most important things to be aware of before getting vaccinated.
Read what they said here.
South Carolina paid $145K for COVID-19 vaccine scheduler
The DHEC agreed to pay $145,000 to create its own vaccine scheduling portal after receiving complaints about the federal system, which confused patients and health care workers, records obtained by The State show.
Seniors in South Carolina immediately voiced their frustration with the Vaccine Administration Management System, or VAMS, after people ages 70 and older became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. The system requires an email address to register, making it virtually impossible for some residents to use.
The DHEC said its vaccine scheduling system, called COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment System, would be more user friendly. But it’s still unclear two months later how many providers will use it as some are using their own systems and some haven’t heard of it.
Nick Davidson, DHEC’s senior deputy for public health, said in mid-March that CVAS would meet the needs of most providers who wanted a better scheduling option.
“It does seem like that’s gonna be the best system to offer,” he said, according to The State.
Vaccine Chasers sign up Columbia residents
For the past six weeks, a group of people has been knocking on doors in some of Columbia’s historically under-served neighborhoods to help schedule older residents for COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
The group, unofficially called the Vaccine Chasers, has helped nearly 1,200 Columbia residents get the vaccine in a month, Jeannie Jackson, the lead organizer of the group, told The State.
Frustration with the technological difficulties surrounding scheduling appointments inspired the group.
“It started with a conversation between Jeannie and me,” Kit Smith, former Richland County councilwoman and leader of the Coalition of Five Points Neighborhoods, told The State. “We were frustrated with the continuing message of how under-vaccinated the African American community is. We knew that the reason was not really vaccine accessibility — it was enrollment accessibility.”
The group then connected with Providence Health, which allots the Vaccine Chasers appointment slots each week. The group fills them for people whose names they’ve collected while knocking on doors and arranges transportation to appointments for those who need it.
This story was originally published March 29, 2021 at 7:18 AM.
