SC DHEC warns state fall surge and confirms 17 coronavirus cases in Eiken County | Coronavirus

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday that the data indicate that the state may be plunging into a surge in the fall.

SC DHEC confirms that the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow steadily in some upstate counties. According to a news release, the rise is not unique to South Carolina, but incidents are increasing nationwide.

Some key indicators in the state have been on the rise since August, including the number of cases per 100,000, positive rate, COVID-19 hospitalization, and the number of COVID-19 patients using ventilators. It is in.

“We will not lose sight of the power of each of us to help reduce the deaths and illnesses of COVID-19. We really have the opportunity to control the spread of this virus much better,” said Dr. Linda Bell. Says. , State Epidemiologist, in release. “Wearing a mask in public and practicing physical distance will consistently positively orbit our case in South Carolina. I hope this happens soon. . “

Dr. Brian Traxler, DHEC’s Interim Director of Public Health, said: , In release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend consistent and correct use of masks, social distance, routine inspections, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and frequent cleaning and disinfection.

SC DHEC also recommends that everyone over 6 months be vaccinated against the flu this year.

At a telebriefing on Thursday by SC DHEC, state epidemiologist Dr. Jane Kelly talked about different types of COVID-19 tests. According to Kelly, PCR tests performed via the nasal or oral swab or with saliva are still the “gold standard.”

“These are all tests that go to a special laboratory, so they are not rapid tests,” Kelly said. “You wipe and collect saliva, and it goes to the laboratory, and the test is very sensitive.”

According to Kelly, it’s very unlikely that someone will get a false negative on this test, but there is a limitation that it can take some time to get results.

According to Kelly, point-of-care and rapid tests have the advantage of being convenient and inexpensive, but not as sensitive as PCR tests. Kelly said these tests are recommended only for people with symptoms.

“I think these tests are very specific, that is, if they are positive, they are infected,” Kelly said. “But if they were done too early, or in people who are still asymptomatic, they will miss some cases.”

SC DHEC confirmed 17 new COVID-19 cases and 15 possible cases in Eiken County on Thursday.

Authorities confirmed seven deaths across the state on Thursday. The data reported on Thursday is dated November 4th.

Also on Thursday, Edgefield County reported 12 new confirmed cases.

This brings the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Aiken County to 4,755 as of Thursday and 78 coronavirus-related deaths.

A total of 32 cases reported Thursday in Eiken County were residents between the ages of 6 and 81, with an average age of 41 years. A total of nearly 69% of the 32 cases were female and 31% were male.

The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC across the state on November 5 was 2,922, with a positive rate of 17.9%.

Currently, the total number of cases across the state is 172,216 confirmed cases, 9,423 estimated cases, 3,736 confirmed deaths, and 256 estimated deaths.

There are currently 755 COVID-19 patients admitted to the state. 102 of those patients are on mechanical ventilation.

USCA test event

USC Aiken will begin hosting a free COVID-19 test event on Friday, November 6th. The test is open to all USC Aiken students, faculty and staff, and the larger Aiken community.

The test runs 6 days a week from 1 pm to 6 pm daily from Wednesday to Monday. This test will continue until the spring of 2021.

SC DHEC provides trained staff to manage the tests. The agency will provide the test results within 24-48 hours of the test.

This happens in the parking lot of the USC Aiken Convocation Center on the 2049 Champion Way in Graniteville. It is a drive-through test site and two lines will open. To pre-register rrtesting.com/uscaiken..

Residents do not need to bring their insurance card, but they do need a driver’s license or USC Aiken ID.

Contact Deri Wills for more information. [email protected] Or 803-641-3787.