| Greenville News
Question: What “phase” are we in relation to COVID-19? This language was released early, but it seems abandoned.
Answer: One thing that can be confusing is that the term “phase” is being used both to describe the spread of the virus and to describe the steps taken to reopen individual states and the country.
Let me break this.
At the moment, the Center for Disease Control states that the US is nationally in the accelerating phase of the pandemic, although different parts of the country are seeing different levels of activity from COVID-19.
The CDC reports that pandemics go through five phases throughout their lives; investigation, recognition, initiation, acceleration and deceleration.
The duration and severity of each phase of the pandemic can vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response, according to the CDC.
What to know: Coronavirus in South Carolina
The United States continues to report thousands of new cases per day, although Johns Hopkins data shows that the average count of new cases in the U.S. has declined in recent days.
Phase language is also being used for reopening. The White House has issued phased reopening guidelines, advising phased reopening to begin as soon as individual states see a downward trajectory of documented cases over a 14-day period.
It is important to note that these are only guidelines, not the law. Many states, including South Carolina, are not waiting for the 14-day downward trajectory before moving forward with the reopening. In some cases, peaks in the number of documented cases of COVID-19 can also be attributed to increased testing efforts.
Last week, Dr. Linda Bell, a state epidemiologist, said health officials are on track to test 2% of the state’s population by June. Increased testing will lead to more positive cases being reported, Bell said.
South Carolina is currently in phase two of reopening, with indoor meals now allowed in restaurants.
Do you have a question you want to answer? Send it to [email protected], contact Elizabeth on her Facebook page at facebook.com/ElizabethSLaFleur or send questions by mail to Elizabeth LaFleur, 32 E. Broad St., Greenville, SC 29601. Answers will appear on Tuesday and on Friday print editions of The Greenville News.