FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2020
COLUMBIA, SC As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise at record levels in South Carolina, public health officials announced today that the state will change its efforts from restraint to social measures to slow the spread of the virus. South Carolinians are asked to help by continuing actions we know work – wear a mask and exercise physical distance.
“As COVID-19 is spreading at tremendous prices in our communities, we call on South Carolinians to take immediate action to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.” says dr. Brannon Traxler, Interim Director of Public Health for the SC Department of Health and Environmental Management (DHEC). ‘Until the COVID-19 vaccines are more readily available and enough people are vaccinated, we must all act now or continue to face unprecedented numbers of cases that overwhelm the lives of our hospitals and healthcare systems, as well as those we love. To be able to do this, each of us must reconnect to the struggle. We are all at the forefront. If we do not act now, we could still have many dark months ahead. ”
During childbirth, the effort is made to control the spread of diseases by examining each case and all those who come in contact with it. The shift from disease inclusion to a disease mitigation phase occurs when cases of disease are widespread and difficult to investigate one by one. Information on mitigation strategies is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
More South Caroliners Get Sick of COVID-19
The Department of Health and Environmental Protection (DHEC) in South Carolina today confirmed 4,809 newly confirmed cases and 136 new probable cases of COVID-19, 18 additional confirmed deaths and 5 new probable deaths. These increases are due to the new records of South Carolina for the highest number of new total cases and the highest positivity rate. It reached 5,077 new cases on Wednesday, January 6, and a positive rate of 34.2% on Tuesday, January 5..
During the first two weeks of 2021, it was confirmed that 45,210 South Carolina people were infected with COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina to 337,845, probable cases to 33,335, confirmed deaths at 5,420 and 514 probable deaths.
This is because South Carolina, like other states across the country, is still experiencing an unprecedented increase in patient hospitals, leading to a decrease in the availability of beds in our emergency departments, hospitals, intensive care units (ICUs) and the supply of fans cause.
Hospital bed and fan used up
This morning, acute hospitals in South Carolina are approaching their capacity and emergency services are overwhelmed. Of the 11 329 inner beds currently used for patient care, 2,427 is occupied by patients who have tested positive or are being tested for COVID-19. In addition, the 1 754 ICU beds are currently used for patient care, 465 is occupied by COVID-19 patients. In the meantime of the 1 948 available fans, 744 is used and 290 of which COVID-19 are patients. Many hospitals in the state are now canceling elective services to cope with the overwhelming increase in the number of patients.
South Carolina are encouraged to know their status; Tested regularly
DHEC strongly encourages South Carolinians to be tested regularly to know their COVID-19 status and take action. As part of its mitigation strategy, DHEC continues to work with community partners across the state to increase access to COVID-19 tests. To date, South Carolina has more than 4.16 million COVID-19 tests, which includes results from ear 2 074 355 different people (40% of the state’s population). In addition, more than 300 test events are open across the state today.
However, the state’s large increase in the number of COVID-19 cases requires public health officials to focus their efforts on maximizing the effectiveness of case and contact investigations.
State takes mitigating measures to make the best use of cases and contact investigations
Mitigation measures seek to make the best use of case and contact investigations to help public health officials focus on the best way to prevent further spread of disease.
During the mitigation phase, attempts at contact investigations to find the close contact of each individual case change, to the priority of case investigations of those who tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 6 days.
Contact investigators will immediately start focusing contact detection on:
- household contacts exposed in the past six days, and
- people who live, work or visit shared housing facilities, high density workplaces or other institutions (or opportunities) where a lot of distribution is possible.
South Carolina should not expect individual notice that they have been exposed to a case.
How can you help?
All should play a role in preventing spread during the softening phase. Public health officials stress the importance of wearing a mask, doing physical distance, staying home and staying away from other people when they are sick, and washing our hands regularly, regardless of whether there are cases reported in your immediate community. is.
“Our chance to get the best result depends on us all doing our part,” Dr. Traxler said. ‘We need South Carolina to continue to fight this disease by taking small steps that make a big difference, including wearing your mask, getting tested and staying home when you are sick, large gatherings to avoid, to exercise physical distance and it is your turn to be vaccinated. ”
People with signs of illness should stay home and avoid public gatherings.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit scdhec.gov/covid19.
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