South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) says his data shows that the number of COVID-19 cases in upstate counties continues to increase at a steady rate, close to or in addition to previous peaks in the state. As cases in Pickens, Greenville and neighboring counties increase and other disease surveillance indicators are likely to increase, health officials warn that the state may be entering a downturn.
This increase is not unique to South Carolina, as cases are growing nationally and in other countries. At the end of October, there were nearly 100,000 cases reported in one day in the United States, establishing new daily case records. And yesterday, the CDC reported a record number of daily cases at 106,537. Of several key indicators in South Carolina showed an upward trend since August, including:
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Daily case rate per 100,000
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Positive percentage
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Hospitalizations for COVID-19
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Number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators
“Nobody should lose sight of the power that each of us has to help decrease COVID-19 deaths and illnesses for all of us. We really have an opportunity to better control the spread of this virus,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist. “Wearing a mask in public and practicing physical distance, consistently, would change the trajectory of our cases in South Carolina in a positive way and I hope that will happen soon.
The resurgence of cases and hospitalizations can have a profound impact on health systems, the economy and the operations of schools and universities, warns DHEC. Public health experts are urging residents to take action now, taking up again the daily precautions that help prevent the spread of this deadly virus.
“The increase in the count of cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the country is extremely worrying, and we must redouble our efforts to prevent a second wave in South Carolina,” he said. said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC’s Acting Director of Public Health. “We understand that the ‘COVID-19 fatigue’ is occurring and we all want a return to normality. But think of our rescuers, doctors and nurses, police and essential workers who, while exhausted, continue to work to keep us safe. We can not give up. “
South Carolinians must commit to the daily actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, which includes:
In addition, DHEC recommends that everyone aged six months or older be given the flu vaccine, with experts saying that this year’s vaccine may be “The most important flu vaccine of your life”. Getting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time can cause more complications than if the flu were the only infection. It is also important to get a flu vaccine to avoid overloading hospitals, ICUs and ventilators with flu patients and COVID-19.
While development of a COVID-19 vaccine continues, it is predicted that when an approved and safe vaccine is available, it will be limited in quantity and initially administered only to certain high-risk groups, notes DHEC. He further explained that this means that residents will need to continue to adhere to the same disease prevention measures currently recommended, even when a vaccine is available.
Visit scdhec.gov/covid19 for the latest information on COVID-19 in South Carolina.