DHEC updates SC lawmakers on coronavirus testing, precautions
South Carolina health officials said Thursday that there are so far no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Palmetto State despite now confirmed cases in two neighboring states: Georgia and North Carolina.
Though the issue is “rapidly emerging,” Rick Toomey, the director at the state’s Health and Environmental Department told state senators Thursday that his agency is focused on “prevention, monitoring and education.”
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control said Wednesday that five people have been tested for the virus, and all tests came back negative. Currently, health officials are monitoring 13 people, and the agency has completed monitoring 49 people.
As of Thursday, health officials said those numbers had not changed. If a test is confirmed at any time, that information will be made public, Toomey said.
Senate President Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, asked health officials if the state is prepared.
“We can tell our residents in South Carolina that we have been preparing for this for a long time. I believe we are,” said Linda Bell, a state epidemiologist. “We do want to inform people not to panic.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
DHEC monitors people if they have “either traveled to an area impacted by the virus, have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19,” the disease caused by the coronavirus, “or who meet other criteria for risk,” said DHEC Chief of Staff Jennifer Read. “We monitor them for 14 days after their last contact or exposure to check for the development of COVID-19 symptoms. Depending on their level of risk, the individuals are asked to restrict their activities and may include staying home and avoiding social settings as a precaution.”
Symptoms of the coronavirus vary in seriousness, but can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials have said the best way to protect against contracting the coronavirus is to wash your hands, avoid contact with the sick and cover coughs.
It is not effective to prevent coronavirus by purchasing surgical masks, officials say.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus?
The State will get the answers for you. Go to bit.ly/SCvirus and let us know what you need to know.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 11:01 AM.
