Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Feb. 22
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 2,500 COVID cases reported in SC over holiday weekend
At least 1.14 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and at least 14,143 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, Feb. 22, reported 436 new COVID-19 cases and no coronavirus-related deaths. There were 301 probable cases and no probable deaths.
The Palmetto State also recorded 2,681 confirmed coronavirus cases and 58 deaths over the long holiday weekend from Saturday, Feb. 19 to Monday, Feb. 21, data shows. There were 1,209 probable cases and 10 probable deaths.
The omicron variant accounted for 100% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week ending Feb. 6, state health data shows. The DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to identify new coronavirus strains, according to the agency’s website.
At least 970 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Feb. 21, including 187 patients being treated in intensive care units and 102 on ventilators. Data shows 11% of hospitalizations in South Carolina are coronavirus-related.
As of Feb. 22, just over 7% 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.
Fifty-four percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and almost 63% have received at least one dose, health officials say.
St. Patrick’s Day events to return to North Myrtle Beach
St. Patrick’s Day events will make a comeback in North Myrtle Beach next month after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Sun News.
The North Myrtle Beach City Council green-lit plans for the annual celebration during a meeting on Feb. 21, the newspaper reported.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, on Main Street between Ocean Boulevard and Cedar Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parade will take place the same day from 9 to 11 a.m.
Revelers can enjoy live music, vendors and plenty of food.
More than 30,000 people are expected to attend, event organizers told the newspaper.
Read the full story here.
Chemical in COVID test kit could cause illness if ingested, experts warn
A chemical found in some over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 tests is fueling an uptick in calls to poison control centers, McClatchy News reported.
Only small quantities of sodium azide are found in the popular testing kits, but experts warn even small amounts can cause illness, including dizziness, headache, heart palpitations and high blood pressure if ingested. Larger amounts can be deadly.
“Sodium azide is a very potent poison, and ingestion of relatively low doses can cause significant toxicity,” according to the National Capital Poison Center. “Fortunately, the amount of sodium azide in most rapid antigen kits is much lower than the amount expected to cause poisoning if swallowed by an adult.”
Sodium azide is used in the liquid solution included in the test kits and trigger a reaction indicating a positive or negative test sample.
For more information, read the full story here.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 2:26 PM.
