Coronavirus updates for Aug. 10: Here’s what to know in South Carolina this week
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back each week for updates.
More than 15,800 COVID cases in SC last week
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, Aug. 9, reported 15,811 COVID-19 cases and seven coronavirus-related deaths for the week ending Aug. 6. The counts include probable and confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.
At least 1.6 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and more than 18,200 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.
Data shows COVID-19 cases are up about 4% compared with this time last week and hospitalizations jumped nearly 2%. As of Aug. 6, an average 587 people in the state were hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 78 patients being treated in intensive care and 25 patients on ventilators, the latest data shows.
The omicron variant accounted for 100% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week of July 30, according to the latest data. The DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to find out about new strains of the virus, the agency’s website reads.
Nearly 63% percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 60% have received at least one dose, state health data shows.
Long COVID conditions in children include heart issues, blood clots, study says
Children and teens who’ve had COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing certain health conditions, including heart issues and blood clots, weeks after clearing the virus, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Better known as long COVID, these new or recurring health issues can appear at least a month after a person contracts the coronavirus, McClatchy News reported, citing the CDC report.
The most common conditions reported among kids up to age 17 were blood clots in the lungs and veins, cardiovascular issues, kidney failure and type 1 diabetes, according to researchers.
Children and teens who have never had COVID-19 aren’t likely to develop these conditions, the study notes. However, the issues can be “potentially serious” for those who do.
Read more about the study here.
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