Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Dec. 30
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Over 3,330 new COVID-19 cases reported in SC
At least 767,188 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 12,640 have died in South Carolina since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday, Dec. 30, reported 3,354 new COVID-19 cases and nine coronavirus-related deaths. There were also 2,557 probable cases and one probable death.
Roughly 28% of COVID-19 strains identified in South Carolina during the week of Dec. 12 were the omicron variant while 71% were the delta variant, according to the latest DHEC data.
At least 877 people in the state were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Dec. 30, including 198 patients being treated in intensive care units and 91 on ventilators. Roughly 9% of hospitalizations across the state are coronavirus-related, data shows.
As of Dec. 30, roughly 20% 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.
Roughly 52% percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated, and 60% have received at least one dose.
COVID-related hospitalizations spike in SC as omicron spreads
South Carolina’s largest hospital systems are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 patients on the heels of the holiday break, and health officials say they’re bracing for another surge after New Year’s.
Prisma Health, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Lexington Medical Center all saw an increase in coronavirus patients this week as the omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread across the Palmetto State, according to The State.
To maintain staffing levels, officials at Prisma Health said the hospital will implement the CDC’s updated quarantine guidance, allowing employees infected with COVID-19 to return to work after five days of isolation.
“With this change, strict masking protocols must again be followed whether you’re vaccinated or not,” Dr. Helmut Albrecht, medical director of the Center of Infectious Diseases Research and Policy for Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina, said at a Dec. 29 news conference.
The hospital will also curtail some of its services to prioritize treating coronavirus patients.
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This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 7:07 AM.