COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Sept. 2
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 3,500 new cases reported
At least 604,166 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 9,403 have died in South Carolina since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 3,572 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, an increase of 18 cases reported the day before. The state also confirmed 44 coronavirus-related deaths.
At least 2,425 people in the state were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday, with 546 patients being treated in intensive care units.
As of Thursday, 14.5% 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.
Forty-eight percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive the vaccine are fully vaccinated, and nearly 57% have received at least one dose, according to health officials.
Additional Horry County schools switch to virtual learning
A surge in COVID-19 cases has forced two more Horry County middle schools to return to virtual learning, according to The Sun News.
Students at Ten Oaks and Whittemore Park middle schools will switch to distance learning on Friday, the Horry County School District announced. The schools have a combined 296 students in quarantine and 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases among students.
In-person classes are set to resume Sept. 17.
SC nursing homes, assisted living facilities secure booster shots
South Carolina long-term care facilities are working with local vaccine providers to ensure the state’s most vulnerable residents have access to the COVID-19 booster shot, The State reported, citing health officials.
The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control said nursing homes and similar facilities have been matched with providers who can administer the extra dose, which President Joe Biden’s administration has recommended at least eight months after receiving the second dose of the two-shot vaccine series.
Those who are immunocompromised or are at increased risk of getting severely ill from the virus are recommended for boosters.
Hilton Head hospitals see surge in COVID patients: ‘Toughest it’s been’
The rapid rise of coronavirus cases is testing limits at Hilton Head and Coastal Carolina hospitals, The Island Packet reported.
“This is truly the toughest it’s been,” Jeremy Clark, CEO of Hilton Head Regional Health Care, said during a Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday. “Patients are sicker than we’ve seen in the previous spikes.”
Both hospitals are treating 44 COVID-positive patients, the newspaper reported, 10 of whom are in intensive care units. Clark noted that roughly 80% of those currently hospitalized for COVID-19 aren’t vaccinated.
“It really doesn’t have to be this way,” he said. “This is largely preventable.”
Read the full story here.
North Charleston requires COVID vaccine for government employees
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the city of North Charleston is now requiring government employees to get vaccinated, according to The State.
Mayor Keith Summey announced the decision Wednesday, citing the “unprecedented” threat of the pandemic.
“It is not easy for me to do something like this,” Summey said in a video posted online, “but at the end of the day my responsibility is to try to maintain the health and well-being of my employees. I am not one of the people that like to create controls, but unlike anything that we’ve had before, this is a different time.”
Read the full story here.
Horry County coronavirus hot spots ranked
Coronavirus cases are rising across Horry County, but some communities are faring better than others, according to an analysis of state health data by The Sun News.
The Galivants Ferry area had the highest COVID-19 incidence rate for the week of Aug. 21-28, data show, with an average of 19 cases per 1,000 residents. The area also has one of the lowest COVID vaccination rates in Horry County, with less than 35% of eligible residents vaccinated.
The Aynor area was next with around 12 cases per 1,000 residents, followed by the Green Sea area with about 11 cases per 1,000 residents.
To see how other Horry County communities stacked up, read the full story here.
Jasper County shutters administrative offices in response to COVID surge
Jasper County’s administrative offices are now closed to the public after an uptick in COVID-19 cases among employees, according to The Island Packet.
Over a fifth of the county’s nearly 300 employees have tested positive for the virus or have had to quarantine in the last month, the newspaper reported, citing a news release.
“The closure is needed to protect the health and well-being of county staff as well as those coming to do business at the county offices,” city officials wrote.
All business will be done via phone, email and drop-box delivery through Labor Day.
Read the full story here.
This story was originally published September 2, 2021 at 7:33 AM.