South Carolina health officials reported 1,319 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, increasing the statewide total to 169,228 confirmed positive cases since the start of the pandemic.
South Carolina publishes COVID-19 vaccination plan
Health officials say the overarching goal of this vaccination plan is the equitable distribution of the vaccine across the state, based on the most current federal guidance and recommendations.
The plan. It is available online at scdhec.gov/covid19vaccine.
“Safety is the top priority in any vaccine development and no vaccine will be released until it has undergone the rigorous scientific and clinical testing that’s required as part of all vaccine development,” said Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina State Epidemiologist. “Scientists had already begun research for coronavirus vaccines during previous outbreaks caused by related coronaviruses, and that earlier research provided a head start for rapid development of vaccines to protect against infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.”
During the initial stages of the national COVID-19 Vaccination Program, there will be a limited supply of the vaccine.
That limited supply will be made available to certain identified groups, including front-line medical workers and nursing home residents.
COVID-19 vaccine supply is expected to increase substantially and be more widely available to the public in 2021.
For more information, including frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines, visit scdhec.gov/covid19vaccine.
Who Should Get Tested?
Nursing homes to report visitation status
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) issued a public health order that requires all nursing homes and community residential care facilities licensed by DHEC to submit a weekly report detailing each facility’s current visitation status.
- whether the facility is allowing visitation, and if not, provide the reason(s) for not allowing visitation
- the number of residents that participated in a visit in the previous seven days
DHEC to report cases at public/private schools in South Carolina
DHEC clarifies CDC information about COVID-19 deaths
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is clarified misunderstanding around data from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC) regarding deaths associated with COVID-19.
Provisional death data updated by the CDC shows that for six percent of COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause of death mentioned. The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying or contributing conditions but COVID-19 was still a factor in the deaths.
Cause of death, as listed on a death certificate, includes an immediate cause, intermediate causes, underlying cause, and contributing conditions.
A common example of cause of death involving COVID-19 would have acute respiratory distress syndrome as the immediate cause of death, which is the ultimate condition that caused the death. The intermediate cause of death would have been pneumonia, with COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death.
The underlying cause of death is the condition that leads, via intermediate causes, to the immediate cause of death.
Contributing factors could have been asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or any other illness or condition that may have made the condition that was the cause of death worse than it would have been.
Are face masks required in S.C.?
Gov. Henry McMaster announced a mask requirement at several establishments in South Carolina, effective on Monday, Aug. 3.
All previously recommended guidelines for restaurants and other establishments that attract groups of people are now mandatory. This includes the wearing of a face mask or cover.
Locally, the cities of York, Rock Hill, Tega Cay, Fort Mill and Chester have all passed face-covering mandates. However, the counties where these cities are located declined to pass any county-wide orders.
Although no statewide mandate has been passed, South Carolina leaders and health officials, including Gov. Henry McMaster, continue to urge residents to wear them.
wearing a face mask, DHEC is offering free mask content that anyone can share on social media to encourage their friends and followers to wear a face covering in public.
Social media posts, graphics, and videos to be shared online can be found at scdhec.gov/staySCstrong.
Restrictions/Closings across South Carolina
While most businesses have been allowed to reopen in South Carolina, there are several that remain closed or limited in capacity.
S.C. compared to other states
South Carolina has received national attention as one of the worst states in the country for coronavirus cases. Over the past several weeks, the state has been breaking records for single-day increases in positive COVID-19 cases.
New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are all asking South Carolina residents to quarantine for two weeks when if they visit the states. South Carolina is a risk for spreading the virus to places that have it better under control. Health leaders say a mask requirement statewide would be helpful, and local places requiring masks help too, but not as fast.
