COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on April 13
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 472,000
At least 472,310 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 8,177 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday reported 447 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, a slight decrease from 453 the day before.
Twelve coronavirus-related deaths were also reported.
At least 544 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, with 144 of them in intensive care units.
As of Tuesday, 5% 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 2.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in South Carolina, and more than 957,000 people in the state had “completed vaccination” as of Sunday, when the latest data was reported.
Bluffton ends mask requirement
The Bluffton Town Council voted to allow its mask ordinance to expire on Wednesday, meaning residents will no longer be required to wear masks in public buildings.
The rule had been in place since June 30, The Island Packet reported.
The 4-1 vote came less than a day after the Beaufort County Council opted not to extend its mask requirement, which called for face coverings in buildings open to the public in all unincorporated areas of the county.
Carolina Country Music Fest to return to Myrtle Beach
After being canceled last year due to COVID-19, the Carolina Country Music Festival is coming back to Myrtle Beach this summer, the Sun News reported.
The festival, which draws crowds of country music fans by the thousands, is scheduled for June 10-13 from 1 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Headlining acts include Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, Eric Church and Jake Owen.
Vendors selling food, drinks and merchandise will be set up for the three-day event. Officials expect between 25,000 to 32,000 attendees each day.
Tickets range from $209 to $1,899. For more information on buying tickets, parking passes and road closures, read the rest of the story here.
SC pauses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations
South Carolina health officials are pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after several people in the U.S. who received the shot developed blood clots, The State reported.
The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Federal Drug Administration on Tuesday advised states to temporarily stop giving the shots out “of an abundance of caution.”
“The FDA and CDC have recommended a pause. We are certainly going to follow that,” said state health director Dr. Edward Simmer. “We are in the process right now of calling all of our providers and making sure they know that they should not give out the Janssen vaccine.”
Officials said clotting is rare.
Walk-in vaccines available in Myrtle Beach
Looking for a COVID-19 vaccine in the Myrtle Beach area? Two local hospitals are now accepting walk-ins, with no appointment necessary, according to The Sun News.
McLeod Health and Tidelands Health have set up multiple clinics for those looking to get vaccinated, with three set to open on Wednesday.
For more on clinic locations and hours, read the full story here.
Are rural vaccination rates slowing herd immunity in Horry County?
With the help of COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Horry County is pushing to reach herd immunity, but some worry low vaccination rates in some rural areas could slow progress.
While the Myrtle Beach area has reached around 50% rate of vaccination among residents, areas such as Aynor, Green Sea, and Bucksport have just scratched 20%, The Sun News reported.
It’s something officials with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control are well aware of.
“We need to think about herd immunity as a community effort,” DHEC said in a statement to The Sun News. “If rural areas lag in vaccinations, we will continue to innovate finding ways to make vaccine access easier, and address vaccine hesitancy with information and outreach through trusted sources.”
To learn more about the challenge of vaccinating rural communities, and what officials are doing to help, read the rest of the story here.
Vaccine ‘fairies’ find and schedule appointments in SC
A pair of sisters have joined as volunteers with “Vaccine Fairy,” an organization helping to secure vaccine slots for strangers across the Carolinas and the U.S..
As “senior fairies,” twins Haley and Tirion Sheafor are up early each morning scouring online portals for CVS, Publix and other local pharmacies in hopes of scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for someone else.
The pair only joined recently after “Vaccine Fairy” launched in March. With the help of volunteers like the Sheafor sisters, the organization has helped find and schedule more than 10,000 appointments for people across the nation.
“It’s very rewarding,” said Hayley, who works in Charleston. “It’s just nice to know it’s something easy you can do for someone without having to put in a lot of effort.”
Read more about the organization here.
COVID-19 cases rise among Beaufort County’s younger residents
Beaufort County officials are seeing a shift in coronavirus infections as more residents get vaccinated, The Island Packet reported.
A push to prioritize residents aged 65 and older has led to about 78% of residents in that age group receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control data.
However, officials say they’re seeing an uptick in infections among younger residents, with those 30 and younger accounting for more than 40% of new cases in the county last month.
“We’ve seen a swing to some of the younger age groups, 15- to 34-year-olds, with regard to the cases,” said Dr. Michael Kacka, a physician and chief medical officer for COVID-19 at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Residents 16 and older are now eligible to get vaccinated, and state health officials are encouraging them to schedule an appointment.
This story was originally published April 13, 2021 at 9:58 AM.