One year since the first suspected COVID-19 cases in South Carolina

COLOMBIA (WOLO): It’s been a year since the first two suspected cases of COVID-19 were suspected in South Carolina

On March 6, 2020, South Carolina announced that it was investigating the first two possible cases of COVID-19 in our state. At the beginning of March 2021, South Carolina had:

• conducted more than 6 million tests through DHEC and other partners,
• increased the contact tracking team from 20 across the state prior to COVID-19 to more than 650,
• answered more than 292,000 calls to CareLine and the vaccination call center,
• 1,003,558 COVID-19 vaccines were administered, • 304,724 South Carolinians were fully vaccinated against COVID-19,
• held more than 33,000 test events, with more than 7,800 more scheduled by March 31, and
• a lot more.

To support these efforts, 2,883 DHEC employees have worked 1,469,225 hours to date as part of the response.

Today, DHEC sends a message to everyone in South Carolina.

“Together, with the support of many, DHEC employees remain steadfast in our commitment to save lives and end the worst pandemic that our country has seen in over 100 years,” said DHEC director, Dr. Edward Simmer, MD . “As we marked more than a year in our fight against COVID-19, we reflected on our journey together and we thank our partners and all South Carolina residents for their continued efforts to support our state and each other during this period. unprecedented. Together, we will overcome this and come out stronger and better. “

Earlier this week, South Carolina announced that due to steady progress with the state’s phased COVID-19 vaccination plan, the state will advance to the next phase, Phase 1b, starting on Monday, March 8.

Although great strides have been made to improve access to vaccines in South Carolina, we recognize that our response to COVID-19 is not over yet, ”said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell.The COVID-19 vaccine is our light at the end of the tunnel. Until a sufficient number of us can be vaccinated, we need everyone to do their part, continuing to wear their mask and staying two meters away from the others ”.

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