Charleston area leaders are trying to expand the COVID-19 test with two easily accessible locations, as South Carolina continues to record a high percentage of positive coronavirus tests.
From February 1st, tests will be available on weekdays from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm, as well as on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, at some Charleston Area Regional Traffic Authority stops – one at 63 Mary St. in downtown Charleston and the other at 3376 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston.
No bookings are required, but anyone can pre-register at gogettested.com. WellHealth’s oral swab tests will take 48 to 96 hours for text or email results, according to the CARTA.
“I am grateful to DHEC, CARTA and our local government partners for making this vision a reality in such a short time,” said state deputy Marvin Pendarvis, D-North Charleston. “When DHEC approached me about the opportunity, I was thrilled that CARTA provides an essential, though often overlooked, role in our local economy.”
The program emerged from a partnership between CARTA, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Governing Council, Charleston County and the cities of Charleston and North Charleston.
Veterans Administration officials also said on Tuesday that Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in North Charleston will open part of its new clinic at 6450 Rivers Ave. beginning February 1 to provide veterans with COVID-19 vaccines.
It would be one of the first VA centers to supply the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the agency said.
Veterans aged 70 and over who are enrolled in VA health care are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic by appointment. The team there will be able to vaccinate up to 5,000 veterans a week. Qualified veterans can call 843-789-6900 to schedule an appointment. The scheduling line will be available from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
State figures
New cases reported: 1,993, which is 1,161 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closure of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 381,812, plus 41,855 probable cases
New deaths reported: 24
Total deaths in SC: 5,944 confirmed, 634 probable
Total tests in SC: 4,730,018
Hospitalized patients: 2,173
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 24.8 percent. Five percent or less of the tests with positive results is a good sign that the spread of the virus is slowing, say the researchers.
Most affected areas
According to DHEC data, the top counties for new coronavirus cases reported on Tuesday were Greenville, 292; Spartanburg, 216; and Richland, 145.
How about tri-county?
Charleston County reported 101 new cases, while Berkeley had 50 and Dorchester had 39.
Deaths
Of the 24 new deaths DHEC confirmed on Tuesday, five were between 35 and 64 and the rest were 65 or older.
They lived in Beaufort, Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, Lexington, Marion, Orangeburg and Richland counties.
Hospitalizations
Of 2,173 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, 440 were in intensive care and 279 were on ventilators.
How many cases were found in long-term care facilities?
There were 16,609 confirmed cases of coronavirus in nursing homes and assisted living facilities: 10,336 residents and 6,273 staff workers, according to DHEC data. This is an increase of 10% of cases in two weeks.
So far, 1,722 residents have died from the virus, a mortality rate of 17 percent. Twenty-eight workers also died. Together, they account for 29 percent of deaths in the state, the data released on Tuesday show.
Of the 685 installations monitored by DHEC, the virus was found in 473. There are active outbreaks in 235 of them, an increase of 10% in two weeks.
Some type of visitation – internal, external or both – is allowed in 323 installations; 348 do not allow; and 14 did not report.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other facial covers, social detachment and frequent hand washing.
They also recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed to the virus or who are developing symptoms get tested. Those who live in the community or cannot distance themselves socially should be tested monthly, DHEC advised.
Medical University of South Carolina is offering quick tests on Tuesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the Charleston International Airport parking lot.
