South Carolina has recorded more than 450,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began about a year ago.
On March 8, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 562 new cases of the coronavirus and four more related deaths.
Efforts are underway in the state to increase testing and place vaccines in the arms of southern Carolinians.
The coronavirus test will be offered from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, March 9-11, at Charleston International Airport.
Starting this week, appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can be made by the people identified in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan. Go to scdhec.gov/vaxfacts for more information.
State figures
New cases reported: 562 confirmed, 126 probable.
Total cases in SC: 450,578 confirmed, 76,138 probable.
Positive percentage: 3.7 percent.
New reported deaths: 4 confirmed, 2 probable.
Total deaths in SC: 7,748 confirmed, 1,012 probable.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 66.3 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people?
39 as of March 7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
Of the newly confirmed cases, Charleston (41), Greenville (73) and Horry (56) counties saw the highest totals.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 41 new cases on March 8, while Berkeley counted 22 and Dorchester 19.
Deaths
Two of the new confirmed deaths reported occurred among people aged 35 to 64, the remainder were patients aged 65 and over.
Hospitalizations
Of the 608 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized on March 8, 140 were in the ICU and 72 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new recommendations on March 8 for vaccinated people. The agency said that fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with others vaccinated without a mask or social distance. Vaccinated persons may also meet indoors with unvaccinated persons without masks, unless any of these individuals are at an increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease.
If a vaccinated person has been close to someone who has COVID-19, they do not need to stay away from other people or get tested, unless symptoms appear, the CDC said.
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