While officials are trying to stem the spread of coronavirus in more rural counties in South Carolina, leaders are organizing eight mass vaccination sites in key areas.
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, DS.C., organized free events in Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton counties. Anyone aged 18 or over is eligible and no appointment is required.
“It is my hope that all Americans will be vaccinated as soon as they can, so that we can save lives and ultimately defeat this virus,” said Clyburn.
“Rural and black communities have been disproportionately affected by the current public health crisis,” he added, and that “many of these communities also do not have access to a reliable internet service, which is why we have chosen not to require bookings for these sites. . These mobile sites allow us to reach our most vulnerable communities, which improves health outcomes and keeps people most affected by this virus back on track. ”
Each clinic will be open from 10 am to 6 pm, and consultations for the second dose will be automatically scheduled.
Hampton County
Tuesday, April 6 – Bull Durham Center, 380 Railroad Ave., Estill
Thursday, April 8 – Community Center, 10 Mixon St., Yemassee
Monday, April 12 – Hampton County Administrative Building, 200 Jackson Avenue, Hampton
Tuesday, April 13 – Varnville Town Hall, Town Circle 101, Varnville
Allendale County
Thursday, April 15 – Allendale Community Center, 202 E. Flat St., Allendale
Friday, April 16 – Fairfax Mini-Mall, 128 Sumter Ave., Fairfax
Bamberg County
Monday, April 19 – Bamberg County Court Annex, 1234 North St., Bamberg
Tuesday, April 20 – Denmark Technical College, 1126 Solomon Blatt Blvd., Denmark
State figures
New cases reported: 632 confirmed, 365 likely.
Total cases in SC: 467,016 confirmed, 88,258 probable.
Positive percentage: 3.5 percent.
New deaths reported: 13 confirmed, 4 probable.
Total deaths in SC: 8,105 confirmed, 1,091 probable.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 69 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people?
42nd on April 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
In the total number of new confirmed cases, Greenville County (128), Richland County (52) and Charleston County (50) saw the highest totals.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 50 new cases on April 3, while Berkeley had 25 and Dorchester had 14.
Deaths
Four of the new confirmed deaths reported were from people aged 35 to 64, and nine were patients aged 65 and over.
Hospitalizations
Of the 486 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized on April 3, 117 were in the ICU and 52 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The CDC issued new travel recommendations for people who were fully vaccinated on April 2. The federal health authority said people who received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine can safely travel abroad.
The CDC also recommends that travelers take the COVID-19 test three to five days after their trip. The agency said “you DO NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States”.
To reach Mary Katherine Wildeman at 843-607-4312. Follow her on Twitter @mkwildeman.