DHEC encourages residents to monitor COVID-19 stats amid rise in cases

Landon Stamper, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

May 20—Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise again across South Carolina, and the state's top health agency is urging everyone to stay safe.

Cases have been increasing for the last several weeks, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. This includes 951 cases the week of March 27 through April 2 statewide, and a consistent rise each of the following weeks, with 5,566 cases the week of May 8-14.

COVID-related deaths have inversely gone down in the same timeframe, from 27 the week of March 27 through April 2 to 10 deaths during May 8-14.

Aiken County's numbers have ranked just above the middle statewide, ranking 18th out of 46 counties in terms of case rate since the end of March.

DHEC is encouraging residents to monitor the most effective indicators of COVID-19 severity, which are weekly hospitalizations and deaths data.

As of Thursday, DHEC data shows that there are currently no COVID-19 ICU beds occupied in Aiken County, nor are there any COVID-19 patients on ventilators.

Across South Carolina, 116 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, with 20 in the ICU and six on ventilators.

"While we continue to track reportable cases, treating COVID-19 as endemic means paying closer attention to severe cases of the virus, meaning those that unfortunately result in hospitalization and death," said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC director. "We are encouraged by seeing our hospitals operating at less than maximum capacity and seeing deaths on a steady decline over the last several weeks."

DHEC is encouraging everyone to continue taking steps to prevent surges as the summer months approach. These preventative measures include getting tested when recommended, masking during times of high transmission or by choice, and getting all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, if eligible.

Residents can visit the Aiken County Health Department to get free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests. The department asks those interested to call them at 803-642-1687 to confirm availability.

DHEC also encourage residents to take advantage of the free home tests being offered through the federal government at covidtests.gov.

"While DHEC will continue playing a very important role in preventing COVID-19 cases, individuals' personal decisions to act now will determine how successful we are at limiting severe cases this summer and beyond," Simmer said. "So we encourage everyone to use good judgment and continue making decisions that will keep themselves and their loved ones safe."