Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Aug 22, 2024 23:19:56 GMT
South Carolina experiencing an increase in COVID emergency room visits - Published Aug 21, 2024
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina is one of 14 states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and South Carolina’s Department of Public Health said the coronavirus epidemic is ‘growing’ in.
“South Carolina is currently experiencing an increase in emergency room visits for COVID at this time, based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention data,” said DPH in a statement to 7NEWS.
The CDC shows the epidemic “growing” in:
Alabama
California
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Minnesota
North Dakota
South Dakota
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
The CDC notes the epidemic is “likely growing” in 11 states including:
Arkansas
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Washington
“It’s probably gradually becoming one of our most frequently diagnosed conditions in the urgent care setting right now,” said Dr. Matthew Delfino, the Medical Director for Urgent Care at Bon Secours. “Most of our centers are seeing a high rate of positive covid tests in people with mild cold or flu like symptoms.”
The CDC says the southern region of the United States leads the way in the number of rising COVID-19 cases. It’s something Dr. Delfino thinks it might be because of schools starting back up.
“Because we’re in a southern state and we do return to school earlier than most states, which increased social activity has happened here before it has in some of the other states,” said Dr. Delfino.
According to wastewaster data from the CDC, there’s been a noticeable spike each winter season, but the latest data shows a spike before fall has even begun.
Dr. Delfino told 7NEWS South Carolinians shouldn’t be concerned of a pandemic 2.0 where everything is shut down like in 2020.
“Certainly, covid can still cause very severe illness in certain people who are high risk,” said Dr. Delfino. “However, most folks that experience covid now are having mild cold like symptoms…not the severe respiratory effects that we saw when we had the first wave of the pandemic.”
DPH recommends people follow the best hygienic practices available like handwashing, staying away from others while ill and staying up to date on vaccinations.
Those are practices Dr. Delfino believes will help the community as a whole and his hospital staff.
“The problem is, when we get a lot of people who do become infected, then the number of people who are having to use the emergency room or have to go to the hospital for those more severe cases does grow,” said Dr. Delfino.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina is one of 14 states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and South Carolina’s Department of Public Health said the coronavirus epidemic is ‘growing’ in.
“South Carolina is currently experiencing an increase in emergency room visits for COVID at this time, based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention data,” said DPH in a statement to 7NEWS.
The CDC shows the epidemic “growing” in:
Alabama
California
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Minnesota
North Dakota
South Dakota
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
The CDC notes the epidemic is “likely growing” in 11 states including:
Arkansas
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Washington
“It’s probably gradually becoming one of our most frequently diagnosed conditions in the urgent care setting right now,” said Dr. Matthew Delfino, the Medical Director for Urgent Care at Bon Secours. “Most of our centers are seeing a high rate of positive covid tests in people with mild cold or flu like symptoms.”
The CDC says the southern region of the United States leads the way in the number of rising COVID-19 cases. It’s something Dr. Delfino thinks it might be because of schools starting back up.
“Because we’re in a southern state and we do return to school earlier than most states, which increased social activity has happened here before it has in some of the other states,” said Dr. Delfino.
According to wastewaster data from the CDC, there’s been a noticeable spike each winter season, but the latest data shows a spike before fall has even begun.
Dr. Delfino told 7NEWS South Carolinians shouldn’t be concerned of a pandemic 2.0 where everything is shut down like in 2020.
“Certainly, covid can still cause very severe illness in certain people who are high risk,” said Dr. Delfino. “However, most folks that experience covid now are having mild cold like symptoms…not the severe respiratory effects that we saw when we had the first wave of the pandemic.”
DPH recommends people follow the best hygienic practices available like handwashing, staying away from others while ill and staying up to date on vaccinations.
Those are practices Dr. Delfino believes will help the community as a whole and his hospital staff.
“The problem is, when we get a lot of people who do become infected, then the number of people who are having to use the emergency room or have to go to the hospital for those more severe cases does grow,” said Dr. Delfino.