COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Oct. 27
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 350 new COVID-19 cases reported in SC
At least 717,446 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 11,767 have died in South Carolina since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday reported 364 new COVID-19 cases and 29 coronavirus-related deaths. There were also 266 probable cases and 10 probable deaths, data shows.
At least 759 people in the state were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 213 patients who were being treated in intensive care units and 144 who were on ventilators. About 8% of hospitalizations across the state are COVID-19-related, data shows.
As of Wednesday, 5.1% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said 5% or lower means there is a low level of community spread.
Nearly 55% of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated, and over 62% have received at least one dose, according to health officials.
SC college has 100% of athletes, coaches vaccinated against COVID-19
A historically Black college in South Carolina is being praised by state health officials after 100% of its athletes, trainers and coaching staff received the COVID-19 vaccine.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control awarded Benedict College with the Community Hero Award, which celebrates groups that “have taken the initiative to be community leaders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” The State reported, citing DHEC.
“That is a tremendous feat, and we applaud the outstanding effort that Benedict, President (Roslyn Clark) Artis and the college’s leadership have made to not only keep athletes and students safe, but to also help promote disease prevention, testing and vaccination throughout their community,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said.
Artis said the college was “deeply honored” to be recognized for the efforts to combat the pandemic.
FDA panel votes to support COVID-19 shots for kids ages 5-11
Children ages 5-11 could soon be eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted in favor of authorizing the shots for younger ages, McClatchy News reported.
The decision came Oct. 26 and was based on recent data showing that the shots are effective at boosting kids’ immune response to the virus.
Once fully authorized, children will receive two smaller doses of the vaccine — about a third of the amount given to teens and adults. The two-shot series will be administered three weeks apart.
Read the full story here.
Memory issues continue to impact people with long COVID-19
COVID-19 can have several long-term effects on the body and some symptoms linger longer than others, according to a new study.
A report studying 740 people who were experiencing long COVID-19, or effects from the virus that stick around for months after the initial infection, reported “brain fog” and other cognitive issues, McClatchy News reported.
The two most common symptoms were memory encoding (24%) and memory recall (23%), according to a report published in October in the journal JAMA Open Network.
Other common cognitive issues reported among people with long-COVID-19 included “category fluency (20%, the ability to think of words within a specific category, such as colors) and processing speed (18%, the time it takes for someone to complete a mental task,” according to the study.
Read the full story here.
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 7:03 AM.
.png)