South Carolina COVID 19

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expanded in South Carolina

As of Wednesday, March 31st, any South Carolinian aged 16 and older is eligible to schedule and receive their COVID-19 vaccine, marking South Carolina’s move to Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

In an effort to get as many individuals vaccinated as possible, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster made the decision to skip Phase 1C, which would have only included individuals aged 45 and older, and opened up the vaccine eligibility to include more people.

In a statement on the decision to open vaccine eligibility, DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said, “We started by making vaccines available to those who were most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19; the elderly, those with high risk of exposure at work, and those with medical conditions that worsen the effects of COVID-19…we are now able to offer three very safe and effective vaccines to all South Carolina residents over the age of 16 – another step on our path to take control of COVID-19 instead of it controlling us and getting back to normal.”

Click here to find a COVID-19 vaccination center near you and schedule your vaccine.

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Columbia Extends Mask Mandate, May Increase Fines

The Columbia City Council voted to extend their mask ordinance within city limits for another two months. The mask ordinance will now end on April 4th – unless the council votes to extend it again.

The Columbia City Council is also considering strengthening the consequences of individuals who do not comply with the ordinance.

During the weekend of January 23rd, over 100 citations were issued to individuals who were not wearing a face mask. Those citations carry a fine of $100, a fee that may be increased in the near future.

According to the ordinance, “…Face coverings which cover the nose and mouth shall be required in all public places within the City. All persons entering a commercial establishment in the City must wear a face covering while inside the establishment. A face covering must also be worn in situations where distances between people change frequently such as a busy sidewalk, waiting area, or popular outdoor area where it is impractical or impossible to maintain six feet of distance at all times…”

A decision on whether or not to increase the fine for not wearing a mask is set to be made during the next council meeting on February 16.

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South Carolina Schools Receiving Rapid COVID-19 Tests

Schools across the state of South Carolina will soon have access to rapid COVID-19 tests.

A recent executive order issued by Governor Henry McMaster is requiring DHEC to provide South Carolina schools with rapid COVID-19 tests. As a part of the executive order, more than 1.5 million tests will be delivered to schools.

The rapid antigen test provides results in as little as 15 minutes. However, the test is only meant for staff members or students who are experiencing symptoms related to the coronavirus.

“Particularly for staff, it will be a very useful tool. If a student goes home, it doesn’t necessarily impact the entire school environment. But if you have a large number of staff members who are out quarantining or out because they are positive, it can shut down a school or drastically change the school’s operations,” said Ryan Brown, South Carolina Department of Education Chief Communications Officer.

While school districts are not required to accept or provide these tests, government officials are encouraging school districts and charter schools to opt into the program.

Many schools who have already opted in are currently in the process of training nurses and athletic trainers to conduct these rapid tests, in hopes that these tests will help mitigate the current rise of coronavirus cases throughout the state.

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South Carolina Has Sent $33 Million in Supplies to Schools

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools, South Carolina has provided $33 million worth of protective equipment to schools across the state.

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman recently hosted a press conference where she said the state continues to fulfill all requests made by schools regarding protective gear to protect students, faculty and staff from COVID-19.

In an effort to reopen in-person learning, over 1,300 schools in South Carolina have received some type of protective equipment.

The state still has a substantial amount of funds from the federal COVID-19 relief money to provide more protective equipment for any schools that still need it.

The South Carolina Department of Education recently made another sizable purchase of gear that included 300,000 sheets of Plexiglass, 3.3 million face masks, 87,000 face shields, 41,000 gallons of hand sanitizer, and 600,000 boxes of disinfectant wipes.

Spearman also addressed the recent purchase saying, “This statewide order will not only ensure that face-to-face operations can be maintained for the foreseeable future but will also provide the necessary resources to phase in additional face-to-face learning as health and safety conditions allow.”

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Health Update: The State’s Response to the Coronavirus

Featured Image Source: WYFF

As increasing numbers of positive cases of the coronavirus are identified globally, South Carolina officials are responding. On Sunday South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced the temporary closure of schools across the state after nine new cases of COVID-19 were identified earlier in the week. Starting on Monday the 16th schools were shut down and will remain closed until the end of March, until further notice. The decision by McMaster applies to public schools across the state, and efforts by transportation officials have begun to supply materials to children in remote areas for online classes.

Several schools throughout the state have responded to closures by implementing free meals for students, offering “grab-and-go” breakfast and lunch on weekdays. Th at eight designated schools. Breakfasts and lunches will be available for pick-up from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and from 12:30-2:30 p.m. respectively at school locations in Columbia, Eastover, and Hopkins.

In addition to shutting down schools, the governor requested that all public gatherings in South Carolina be limited to under 100 people following advice from health organizations to limit the number of people in one location. As of Monday evening the total number of statewide cases testing positive for the coronavirus has reached 33.

For continued updates on closures and safety information, visit the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Center for Disease Control.