The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) held a 30-minute statewide briefing for media to provide an update on COVID-19 and the state’s vaccine rollout efforts.
Jane Kelly, Assistant State Epidemiologist, answered questions on the call.
You can come back to watch the video with updates below.
Dr. Jane Kelly, Assistant State Epidemiologist mentioned the updated COVID-19 dashboard change for schools, now showing isolation and quarantine numbers reported directly from the schools.
You might remember we reported the health agency was looking to make the change last week.
"Being unvaccinated is dangerous to the individuals, and their families," Kelly said. The agency reported 138 new deaths on Tuesday.
She said DHEC has not received a report of the Mu variant in the state, but if that happens, it will be reflected on the dashboard.
Dr. Kelly said thankfully, daily case numbers in the state have gone done, but "wouldn't say that we've rounded a corner just yet." She said a surge can still happen, as fluctuation is common. She said less people could have been tested after the longer holiday weekend.
She said beating the virus comes down to masking, and vaccination, and would like to see more daily case totals before saying that we've rounded a corner.
Dr. Kelly explained all three vaccines are effective in preventing serious infection from COVID-19 and all the variants circulating in South Carolina.
She said the higher the vaccination rate, and increase masking, will give the virus less opportunity to spread, less opportunity to mutate into a stronger variant.