Sunday, March 8, 2020
COLUMBIA, SC (WRDW / WAGT) – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is investigating four possible new cases of the new coronavirus.
Officials say the new cases were identified after the tests were completed at DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory.
This adds up to the two presumably positive cases on March 6. This brings the total number of presumed positive cases in South Carolina to six.
DHEC says that two of these four new cases are direct contacts (ie, close personal contact) with the Camden woman who was announced as supposedly positive on March 6.
One of these two individuals is a woman who was hospitalized for reasons unrelated to the coronavirus and is currently isolated. The other individual, an elderly person, was temporarily admitted to a health service, discharged and is currently isolated at home.
The third new case is that of a Camden woman with no known connection at the moment, with Camden’s other presumably positive cases. She was evaluated at a health service, was not hospitalized and is currently isolated at home.
The fourth new case is a man from Spartanburg County, with no known connection at the moment, with any of the other presumably positive cases. He is not hospitalized and is currently isolated at home. He had recently traveled to Italy.
DHEC also released updated information on the two March 6 cases. They say the Camden woman was transferred to a health center in Midlands on March 6 to receive a higher level of care. It remains isolated. The Charleston County woman has no symptoms and continues to monitor herself.
Governor Henry McMaster responded to the four new cases by declaring,
“South Carolina health officials are following the protocols and procedures established to deal with the new coronavirus of 2019. There is no reason for public alarm or speculation. It is important to remember that each individual is responsible for their own actions and personal hygiene” , Gov. McMaster said. “If you feel sick, stay home and contact your doctor. Or from your home, you can consult a doctor for free on the MUSC website at: https://MUSC.care. Southern Carolinians should continue below recommendations and information provided by official sources. “
“Presumed positive” means samples from these individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the DHEC Public Health Laboratory; however, these results must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC takes 24 to 48 hours to confirm the samples after they are received.
“We now have evidence of spread by the community that is probably causing these initial cases in Camden, Kershaw County, and the risk of spreading to other communities is possible, as seen in other states across the country,” Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist , said. “We are working with CDC and state and local authorities to limit the spread of the community and, at the same time, continue with our protocol for identifying cases related to travel in the state.”
DHEC also added that, according to CDC guidelines, the department does not recommend closing schools or canceling public events at this time. DHEC will monitor absenteeism rates in schools and businesses, as well as disease reports in the community to determine whether or when closure can be recommended.
DHEC is also providing updated recommendations for schools and daycare centers, colleges and universities and organizers of major events. This updated information is publicly available at scdhec.gov/COVID-19. DHEC continues to communicate with state agencies and community partners.
As of this afternoon, DHEC has tested a total of 18 individuals for COVID-19, which includes the six presumed positives. The other tests are negative. DHEC will update the public as soon as the results of the CDC confirmation tests are available, and when other new information is known.
“We understand that residents will be concerned about this new indication of dissemination by the community, however, I ask the public to remain calm and follow the recommendations to prevent the spread of diseases. Public health events like this are not new in South Carolina, ”said Bell. “As a state, we respond to Zika, the H1N1 influenza pandemic, SARS and others – including outbreaks of seasonal flu, and our medical consultants conduct more than 700 disease investigations each year for a variety of diseases. We train, prepare and implement systems to ensure that we are prepared and ready to respond to this and other events. “
At that time, care is recommended to maintain the daily routines of protection against diseases, practicing good hygiene, washing hands, covering cough. Individuals with signs of illness should stay home, not go to school and work, and not attend public meetings.
Residents who experience symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their personal physician or healthcare professional. If an individual does not have a primary care physician, MUSC Health offers free telehealth tests for all South Carolinaians. Anyone with symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promotional code COVID19 and be tracked without having to leave the house.
The DHEC Care Line is available to provide general information about COVID-19 by calling 1-855-472-3432 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, seven days a week. Care Line hours extend until 9 pm. Since the volume of the call has been high, callers should be patient if they receive a busy signal and try the call later. For general questions about COVID-19, visit the DHEC website at scdhec.gov/COVID19 or the CDC website here.
Friday, March 6, 2020
SC (WRDW / WAGT) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirms that it is now investigating two presumed positive cases of coronavirus in South Carolina.
DHEC says samples from both cases tested positive at its Public Health Laboratory in Columbia.
DHEC says one case is of an elderly adult woman in Kershaw County. She was hospitalized and is now isolated. DHEC says the woman does not have a known travel history.
They say the other case is an adult woman in Charleston County who recently traveled to France and Italy. The patient did not require hospitalization and is isolated at home.
DHEC says the two presumed positive samples will be sent to the CDC for confirmation. They say it usually takes the CDC a day or two to confirm these cases.
DHEC recommends that no additional precautions be recommended to the public at this time, other than daily precautions such as getting the flu shot, washing your hands, covering your cough and disposing of tissues and other items properly.
They say that people concerned about their own health or who are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their personal doctor or health care professional.
DHEC launched its Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 to answer general questions about the virus.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is planning a press conference about the new possible cases tomorrow morning at 10am.
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