South Carolina registered nearly 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, a dismal milestone state public health officials noted in a media conference call when providing updates on expanding the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine.
The new case numbers undermine the daily record of the State of Palmetto, something that officials from the Department of Health and Environmental Control of SC say should remind residents of the importance of continuing to take precautions such as wearing masks, social distance and hand washing. .
“People are sick, hospitalized and suffering and dying from this virus as we speak,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, interim director of public health at DHEC. “Our hospitals are overloaded.”
Amid the sudden increase, South Carolina’s largest hospital system, Prisma Health, announced that it would restrict patient visits from Saturday.
“We know that being with families is healing therapy in itself and that is why we struggle with this decision. But we believe that this measure is necessary in the wake of the post-holiday increase in COVID-19, especially due to the growing spread of the community.” said Dr. Eric Ossmann, an emergency medical doctor who is the head of preparation for Prisma Health and leads its COVID-19 response system.
Limited visitation is still allowed in a limited set of circumstances.
Pediatric patients are entitled to a visitor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as a daily one-hour “transition period” during which both parents or legal guardians are allowed, according to Prisma Health .
Preterm obstetric patients, in imminent labor, in high-risk, post-partum labor, may have a visit, according to the hospital system. Patients undergoing procedures that require sedation, such as colonoscopies, can receive a visitor.
“Case-by-case approval is required for visiting those who require additional assistance from care partners, such as for patients with dementia,” according to the hospital’s system.
Prisma’s emergency department staff will use common sense when allowing visitors to children, older adults or any patient with special needs, the hospital’s system said.
In addition, up to three visitors may be allowed in end-of-life situations, the hospital’s system said.
COVID-19 positive patients, or those with suspected cases, are not allowed visitors, except under “special case-by-case approvals,” the hospital system said.
“Patients who are not suspected or unconfirmed of having COVID-19 can receive religious service from the clergy of their choice, as long as it does not hinder their care,” said the hospital’s system. “Patients with COVID-19 can still receive religious services, but the attending physician must be informed of the request.”
All visitors will have to be examined and must wear a face mask at all times while in the hospital, said Prisma. Children under the age of 18 cannot visit, wait in end of life situations.
State figures
New cases reported: 4,986, which is 3,055 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closing of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 315,353, plus 28,823 probable cases
New deaths reported: 28
Total deaths in SC: 5,217 confirmed, 478 probable
Total tests in SC: 3,948,383
Hospitalized patients: 2,396
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 31.8 percent. Five percent or less of the tests with positive results is a good sign that the spread of the virus is slowing, say the researchers.
Update vaccines
South Carolina received a total of 146,500 Pfizer vaccines, including 34,125 doses received this week, DHEC said.
As of Friday, 62,632 South Carolina residents have received their first dose and 7,698 have received their second and last dose, DHEC said.
In addition, 83,844 people made an appointment to be vaccinated.
Traxler said that until Friday, South Carolina had received 86,400 doses of the Modern vaccine, which has so far been limited to residents and employees of long-term care facilities.
All long-term care facilities in Palmetto state have been equipped with a vaccine supplier, she said. To date, 5,511 residents and 2,721 employees have received their first dose of the vaccine at 114 long-term care facilities across the state.
CVS and Walgreens have 844 clinics scheduled, said Traxler.
Despite these successes, DHEC is aware of several facilities that do not meet the criteria set by the federal Modern vaccine deployment management program for long-term care facilities, she said.
A total of 146 independent living facilities, retirement communities and other types of congregated living communities opted for the federal program which was intended for only three types of facilities – nursing homes, assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for people with disabilities. intellectual disability, Traxler said.
“That’s why there are 750 long-stay institutions in South Carolina, but close to 850 units registered under this federal long-stay program,” she said.
On Friday, DHEC told hospitals across the state that they should start offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all patients admitted at age 65 or older, as long as they don’t have the coronavirus, Traxler said.
The expansion in the number of people eligible for the vaccine is part of DHEC’s efforts to accelerate the number of people immunized against this deadly virus, she said. The agency is also exploring expanding the number of people authorized to administer the vaccine.
“We continue to make great strides and progress in our vaccination efforts here in South Carolina,” said Traxler.
Most affected areas
According to DHEC data, the top counties for new coronavirus cases reported on Friday were Greenville, 809; Richland, 374; and York, 356.
How about tri-county?
Charleston County had 238 new cases; Berkeley, 98; and Dorchester, 119.
There were two new deaths in three counties, said DHEC. One patient each died in Charleston and Dorchester counties. Both people were 65 or older.
Deaths
Of the remaining 26 confirmed deaths, 24 were patients aged 65 and over.
They lived in the following counties: Aiken, Chesterfield, Florence, Greenville, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg and York.
Two patients aged 35 to 64 also died. They lived in Chesterfield and Florence counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 2,396 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday, 488 were in intensive care and 251 were on ventilators.
What do the experts say?
As the number of vaccinated people increases, Traxler said it is important for Southern Carolinians to remain vigilant and not to abandon caution.
“People will continue to get sick and lose their lives with this virus until enough vaccine is available to all of us, so please, everyone needs to continue to follow the disease prevention methods that we know work,” she said.
In addition to taking the standard preventive precautions for COVID-19, Traxler and other officials recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed to the virus or are developing symptoms should be tested. Those who live in the community or cannot distance themselves socially should be tested monthly, DHEC advised.
Go to scdhec.gov/findatest to find a test site in your area.