The Perfect Enemy | COVID-19 levels ‘spike’ in some counties; South Carolina health officials send warning

HE WAS STILL HOSPITALIZED. THE LATEST NOW ON COVID-19. SOUTH CAROLAIN HEALTH LEADERS SAY THAT WHILE CASES HAVE RISEN CONSISTENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, DEATHS FROM COVID HAVE DROPPED EACH WEEK. DHEC SAYS IT REMAINS FOCUSED ON SEVERE CASES THAT MADE IT TO HOSPITALATIOIZNS OR DEBTS. WERE TOLTHD AT HOSPITALS ARE OPERATING AT LESS THAMAN XIMUM CAPACITY. DHEC REMINDS PEOPLE AS SUERMM MONTH APPROACH WITH MORE PEOPLE TRAVELING TO TEST WHEN IT IS RECOMMENDED, WHERE A MASK DURING TIMES OF HHIG TRANSMISSION AND GET ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED COVID-

COVID-19 levels ‘spike’ in some counties; South Carolina health officials send warning

(Above video was published on May 18, 2022.)The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control sent out a plea Friday as COVID-19 levels across the state and the nation begin to rise: Get vaccinated, boosted and wear a mask if you live in areas with rising coronavirus levels.In a release, DHEC urged residents to track community-level spread in the county where they live and work and follow the prevention steps to take based on the latest data. The CDC map provided by DHEC shows the entire Upstate is in the low-level zone. South Carolina’s Marlboro and Dillion counties were the only counties in the state showing high levels of COVID-19 cases.Another 14 counties, from Richland and Lexington in the Midlands to Charleston, Berkeley and Horry counties along the coast, are showing medium levels of cases. “Part of treating COVID-19 as an endemic virus is recognizing that we need to know the current community level and the steps to take to stay virus-free,” Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director said. “We are seeing more medium and high transmission across South Carolina, so we strongly encourage our residents to follow all recommendations, including masking, staying home when sick, and being vaccinated, including boosters when eligible, that will help bring these numbers back down.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates its COVID-19 Community Level map every Thursday night and provides a snapshot of COVID-19 levels in each county. Residents can visit the interactive map or use the county check tool on DHEC’s community levels page to view levels in their area.Here is the masking guidance for the various county levels:For low levels of COVID-19 in a community, masking is “not needed in most settings,” but remains optional for individuals. In communities with medium levels of COVID-19, individuals who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as those who are regularly around immunocompromised individuals are encouraged to mask up, while it is optional for others. In communities with high levels of COVID-19, masking is recommended in indoor settings, including schools and workplaces.In addition to following the masking guidance, residents should follow the vaccination and booster guidance, as well as the quarantine and isolation guidance, outlined on DHEC’s endemic page. The page also has guidance on when to get tested and where to find free, rapid antigen tests.”We know the summer season brings more vacationing and public events, which creates more opportunities for virus spread,” Simmer said. “So we’re asking everyone to use good judgment and take the necessary precautions to stay well themselves and to protect their family and friends. COVID-19 is still a deadly virus that is claiming lives every week, and we all play a role in keeping ourselves and our fellow South Carolinians safe.”DHEC’s data and dashboards page follows weekly data trends, and the agency’s main COVID-19 page provides other important information.

COLUMBIA, S.C. —

(Above video was published on May 18, 2022.)

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control sent out a plea Friday as COVID-19 levels across the state and the nation begin to rise: Get vaccinated, boosted and wear a mask if you live in areas with rising coronavirus levels.

In a release, DHEC urged residents to track community-level spread in the county where they live and work and follow the prevention steps to take based on the latest data.

The CDC map provided by DHEC shows the entire Upstate is in the low-level zone. South Carolina’s Marlboro and Dillion counties were the only counties in the state showing high levels of COVID-19 cases.

Another 14 counties, from Richland and Lexington in the Midlands to Charleston, Berkeley and Horry counties along the coast, are showing medium levels of cases.

“Part of treating COVID-19 as an endemic virus is recognizing that we need to know the current community level and the steps to take to stay virus-free,” Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director said. “We are seeing more medium and high transmission across South Carolina, so we strongly encourage our residents to follow all recommendations, including masking, staying home when sick, and being vaccinated, including boosters when eligible, that will help bring these numbers back down.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates its COVID-19 Community Level map every Thursday night and provides a snapshot of COVID-19 levels in each county. Residents can visit the interactive map or use the county check tool on DHEC’s community levels page to view levels in their area.

Here is the masking guidance for the various county levels:

For low levels of COVID-19 in a community, masking is “not needed in most settings,” but remains optional for individuals.
In communities with medium levels of COVID-19, individuals who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as those who are regularly around immunocompromised individuals are encouraged to mask up, while it is optional for others.
In communities with high levels of COVID-19, masking is recommended in indoor settings, including schools and workplaces.

In addition to following the masking guidance, residents should follow the vaccination and booster guidance, as well as the quarantine and isolation guidance, outlined on DHEC’s endemic page. The page also has guidance on when to get tested and where to find free, rapid antigen tests.

“We know the summer season brings more vacationing and public events, which creates more opportunities for virus spread,” Simmer said. “So we’re asking everyone to use good judgment and take the necessary precautions to stay well themselves and to protect their family and friends. COVID-19 is still a deadly virus that is claiming lives every week, and we all play a role in keeping ourselves and our fellow South Carolinians safe.”

DHEC’s data and dashboards page follows weekly data trends, and the agency’s main COVID-19 page provides other important information.