Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on March 7
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Fewer than 200 new cases reported in SC
At least 1.14 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and at least 14,631 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday, March 7, reported 178 new COVID-19 cases and 70 coronavirus-related deaths. There were also 41 probable cases and six probable deaths.
Over the weekend, the Palmetto State reported 433 confirmed coronavirus cases and 192 probable cases, state data shows. There were also 143 confirmed deaths and 10 probable deaths.
The omicron variant accounted for 100% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week ending Feb. 20, 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 422 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 6, including 90 patients being treated in intensive care units and 41 on ventilators. Data shows around 5% of hospitalizations in South Carolina are coronavirus-related.
As of March 7, 2% 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 53% of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and about 62% have received at least one dose, health officials say.
Hilton Head to end free COVID-19 testing Monday
The town of Hilton Head Island will stop offering free coronavirus testing after Monday, March 7, The Island Packet reported, citing town officials.
Residents have a final chance to get tested at Chaplin Community Park, where drive-thru testing will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., officials said in a news release. The change comes after the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control phased out its testing operations last week.
“The number of people seeking to be tested has declined significantly over the last several weeks, so providers have opted to discontinue testing operations at this time,” Hilton Head’s emergency manager Tom Dunn said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and evaluate whether to set up testing sites in the future.”
For more information, read the full story here.
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 1:37 PM.
