Here’s where you can get a COVID test, vaccine in Columbia this week after the holidays
South Carolina health officials predict the winter holidays, similar to last year, will bring a surge in COVID-19 cases.
In light of that information, health officials are pushing the unvaccinated to get vaccinated.
The city of Columbia is offering free Pfizer, Pfizer pediatric, Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The clinics will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.
▪ Today, vaccines will be available at the Drew Wellness Center on Walker Solomon Way
▪ On Thursday, officials will offer the vaccine at Hyatt Park on Jackson Avenue.
▪ On Tuesday, Jan. 4, the vaccine will be available at MLK Park on Greene Street.
▪ On Thursday, Jan. 6, at Melrose Park on Fairview Drive
Other COVID-19 vaccine sites in the Midlands can be found at DHEC’s website at vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov.
There are also several COVID-19 testing across the Columbia area, including at Main Street Physicians on Main Street, the Wright Wellness Center on Laurel Street and the DHEC parking lot on Bull Street.
The Lexington Medical Center also opened a new testing site in northeast Columbia on Longtown Commons Drive. The site will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are required and can be made online.
The hospital also is operating a testing site at 139 Summerplace Drive in West Columbia, open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. However, it will be closed on New Years Day. Appointments are required and can be made online at lexmed.com/patients-visitors/covid-screening.
More testing locations and details can be found on DHEC’s website at scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations.
State Department of Health and Environmental Control officials have yet to update recent coronavirus case numbers due to the holidays. Last year, the holidays were followed by the largest surge of cases in South Carolina’s pandemic history.
An uptick in cases may also put strain on local hospitals.
As of about a week ago, 70% of Richland County hospital beds were in use, and 87% in Lexington County, according to DHEC.
Lexington Medical Center reported a marked increase of COVID-19 patients Wednesday, spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson said.
Through most of December, the hospital cared for 20 to 30 COVID-19 patients per day, Wilson said. As of Wednesday, they were caring for 42. However, the hospital still has available beds and Wilson said they’re not worried about space.
During a press conference Wednesday, Prisma Health officials said in one week, COVID-19 hospitalizations doubled from 100 to 223. In response, Prisma, one of the largest hospital systems in the state, announced it would cut back other services.
Officials at the Medical University of South Carolina reported Wednesday they are also seeing an increase of COVID-19 hospitalizations, with more than 20 patients hospitalized in their Charleston location and 20-25 patients each at their Pee Dee and Columbia locations.
MUSC has also seen an increase in pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations, with five children hospitalized now, the highest number since mid-October.
As health officials await the winter surge in cases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed their COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.
On Monday, the CDC shortened the recommended time of isolation from 10 to five days if the person with COVID-19 is asymptomatic. Then, they would need to wear a mask in public for the five following days.
Those who are symptomatic are advised to wait until they are no longer experiencing symptoms.
Health officials said they changed course on their guidance because the majority of COVID-19 transmission happens in the two days before symptoms start and the two to three days after.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 10:15 AM.
