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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is investigating six additional cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. This brings the total number of cases statewide to 19.
Preliminary information for new case
- Three new cases are from Beaufort County. Two cases are close contacts of each other and had known exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19 from another state. The other case has no know connection to any other case and recently traveled internationally. All three cases are currently isolated at home.
- Two new cases are from Kershaw County who have no identified source of exposure. Both are currently hospitalized and isolated.
- One new case is from Lexington County who is currently hospitalized and isolated. This individual has no known exposure to another case and no recent travel history to an impacted area.
Impacted facilities
- The Lexington County case was a resident of Lexington Medical Center Extended Care Skilled Nursing Facility. The source of this patient’s exposure is being investigated. DHEC is working with the facility to identify all contacts and is providing guidance about infection control measures to prevent spread.
“We are working closely with this extended care facility to immediately investigate possible exposures in an effort to mitigate any potential spread at this facility,” said Dr. Bell. “The facility is completely cooperative as we work through our contact investigation and staff are abiding by DHEC’s and CDC’s recommended actions for helping to protect this higher-risk population.”
Yesterday, in conjunction with Governor McMaster’s state of emergency declaration, DHEC immediately began restricting visitation to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with the exception of end-of-life situations, to help better safeguard this vulnerable population against COVID-19.
“Our top priorities remain preventing the spread of the disease and protecting the public health,” Bell said. “This includes working to control spread and measures that best protect all individuals. We encourage the public to maintain their daily routines of protecting against illness by practicing good hygiene and handwashing, and individuals with signs of illness are asked to take seriously the recommendation to stay home from school and work and not attend public gatherings.”
People with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their healthcare provider. If an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, several healthcare systems are providing telehealth services so residents may be evaluated by a healthcare provider without having to leave their homes. If it’s determined an individual should be tested, they will be instructed where to go to be tested. Individuals with minor illness are advised not to go to emergency departments.
Learn more about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’s guidance for infection control in healthcare facilities here. For more information about COVID-19, visit scdhec.gov/COVID19 or the CDC website here.
Number of COVID-19 cases to date
- 19 positive cases
- DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory has conducted 123 tests: 19 positive and 110 negative
- DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory has received enough supplies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to test 2,000 samples. We have the routine capacity to test 80-100 specimens per day with the ability to double or triple that number as needed, however, testing should be reserved for those that meet the clinical criteria for testing. Testing individuals without symptoms is not recommended.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some private labs in South Carolina to also conduct CDC-approved testing for COVID-19. These labs are required to report positive cases of the virus to DHEC. Reporting of positive results will be delayed from that of tests performed by DHEC. DHEC will continue to update the public as positive cases are either conducted by the state’s Public Health Laboratory or as the cases are reported to DHEC by private labs.
“Although we are not currently seeing widespread transmission in South Carolina, we expect to see more cases and we will continue to monitor CDC guidance and recommendations,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist. “As part of this effort, we are preparing for transition from containment to mitigation.
In order to take precautions for members of South Carolina’s vulnerable populations, DHEC is immediately restricting visitation to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with the exception of end-of-life situations.
“We encourage the public to maintain their daily routines of protecting against illness by practicing good hygiene, washing your hands, and covering your cough,” Bell said. “Individuals with signs of illness are asked to take seriously the recommendation to stay home from school and work and not attend public gatherings.”
Residents who are showing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their personal doctor or healthcare provider. If an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home. Additional telehealth services from other healthcare systems will be made available on the DHEC website.
“Our top priorities remain preventing the spread of the disease and protecting the public health,” Bell said. “This includes working to control spread and measures that best protect all individuals.”
For more information about COVID-19, visit the DHEC website scdhec.gov/COVID19 or the CDC website here.
Original Story Posted (March 12, 2020):
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is investigating two new possible cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus from Kershaw and Lancaster Counties, the agency announced today. This brings the total number of presumptive positive cases to six, along with six confirmed cases.
New preliminary information:
- The case from Lancaster County is a household contact (family member or close friend) of a previous case. He was evaluated at a healthcare facility and is currently isolated at home.
- The case from Kershaw County is a Camden man who is currently hospitalized and in isolation. DHEC is working with the healthcare facility and taking routine measures to prevent possible spread.
While the samples tested positive at DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory, the results are required to be confirmed by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DHEC treats all presumptive positives as cases of COVID-19.
DHEC has tested a total of 87 individuals for COVID-19, which includes the six presumptive positive cases and six confirmed cases. DHEC will update the public as soon as the confirmatory test results from the CDC or other reference laboratories that are now testing are available, and as other new information is known.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and will modify our recommendations to address what the public health data is showing in South Carolina and in other areas,” Bell said. “Our top priorities remain preventing the spread of the disease and protecting the public health. This includes working to control spread and measures that best protect all individuals.”
At this time, it is recommended that people maintain their daily routines of protecting against illness by practicing good hygiene, washing your hands, and covering your cough. Individuals with signs of illness are asked to take seriously the recommendation to stay home from school and work and not attend public gatherings.
We are monitoring the status of the virus in South Carolina to make decisions about large gatherings. The cancellation of schools and events is not needed at this time. We are constantly monitoring our epidemiological data and following CDC for strategies to slow the spread of disease in our communities.
If in the future if our medical experts and epidemiologists feel a change to this recommendation is needed based on our surveillance and disease investigation activities, we will immediately notify the public.
Residents who are showing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their personal doctor or healthcare provider. If an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the DHEC website at scdhec.gov/COVID19 or the CDC website here.
