How widespread is the delta variant in SC? Here’s how DHEC explains the COVID-19 risk

The delta variant is now considered more transmissible than most well-known highly infectious illnesses, including Ebola, the common cold and the 1918 Spanish flu, a South Carolina health official said.

The variant’s alarming rate of spread, coupled with South Carolina’s low vaccination rate, leaves the state vulnerable to a far greater spike in cases than the one it’s already experiencing, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control medical consultant Dr. Jonathan Knoche said Wednesday.

“We’re seeing a much more transmissible variant in a community that’s not fully protected and has relatively low vaccination rates, to be frank,” he said. “I think we’re going to continue to see the numbers go up among the most vulnerable in our community, among the unvaccinated and children.”

Knoche said an individual who contracts the delta variant is likely to pass it along to eight or nine other people — a similar level of transmission as chickenpox. Those who contracted earlier variants of COVID-19 were likely to pass it to one or two people, he said.

“As the viruses mutate into different forms over time, they can become stronger,” he said. “The rise of the delta variant, which causes one person to infect about four times as many people as previous variants, combined with lagging vaccination rates, that’s resulted in significantly more cases in South Carolina and across the country.”

South Carolina officials attribute the rise in cases to the delta variant, which has rapidly spread across the state among the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated. All but four of South Carolina’s counties, including York, Lancaster and Chester, are reporting high incidence rates, which accounts for 200-plus new cases per 100,000 people in a two-week period, for new COVID-19 cases, according to DHEC data.

Officials have identified 140 known cases of the delta variant in South Carolina since July 28, but there are likely far more circulating in the state. The agency sequences only a small fraction of randomly selected positive samples for the variant, DHEC officials said.

Rise in vaccinations

Over the last few weeks, there has been an uptick in the number vaccinations across the state, Knoche said, but the upward trend needs to continue.

“We hope that trend continues,” Knoche said. “It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why that is, but we hope that it’s because people have maybe done more research or they’ve noticed there’s an uptick in cases in their family or their community and they decided to go ahead and protect themselves and others.”

As of Wednesday, 44.8% of eligible South Carolina residents are fully vaccinated, which is one of the lowest rates among all U.S. states, according to DHEC data. About 51.7% of eligible residents have received at least one dose, the data show.

With the rise of the delta variant, Knoche said “it’s more important than ever” for people, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in public indoor settings — just as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week, and DHEC reiterated, for areas with high coronavirus activity.

All of South Carolina’s counties are experiencing substantial or high transmission, according to the CDC, and are subject to the agency’s recent indoor masking recommendation.

“We want people to be mindful of their individual actions and how that impacts those around them, impacts their neighbors or children, people at their church, and so forth,” Knoche said. “What every person does individually impacts those around them. I think that’s important for us to remember.”

Who should get tested for COVID

A majority of new COVID-19 cases in South Carolina and the U.S. continue to be reported among the unvaccinated, Knoche said. As of July 26, less than 0.004% of the 163 million fully vaccinated Americans experienced a breakthrough case that resulted in hospitalization, Knoche said, referencing recent CDC data.

The overall purpose of the three COVID-19 vaccines is to protect against severe illness, so some breakthrough cases are “expected,” he said. A majority of the breakthrough cases in the U.S. are among those who are 65 and older, Knoche said.

“The numbers actually show that these COVID-19 vaccines are among the most effective created,” he said. ”That’s important to note as we continue pushing for more vaccinations.”

He said DHEC supports the CDC’s updated guidance that states people, even those fully vaccinated, should get tested for current a COVID-19 infection if they:

• Have COVID-19 symptoms
• Have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19

• Are unvaccinated and have taken part in activities that put them at greater risk of COVID-19 because they could not physically distance

• Have been asked or referred to get tested by a healthcare provider

The federal agency advises that fully vaccinated individuals who know they were exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should get tested three to five days after.

“We continue to support vaccines as the best defense against beating this pandemic and getting our numbers back down,” Knoche said.

Where to get COVID testing

York County

Where to get vaccinated

CVS Pharmacies (offering Moderna): Patients can sign up online here.

• 592 Lancaster Hwy., Chester

Chester County EMS: Patients can sign up online here or by calling 803-377-1132.

• 514A Government Dr., Chester

Walmart Pharmacies (offering Moderna): Patients can sign up online here.

• 1691 J.A. Cochran Bypass, Chester

Chester County Health Department (offering Moderna): Patients can sign up online here or by calling 1-855-472-3432.

• 129 Wylie St., Chester

MUSC Health Chester Medical Center (offering Pfizer): Patients can sign up online here or by calling 843-876-7227.

• 1 Medical Park Dr., Chester

Great Falls Pharmacy (offering Moderna, Johnson & Johnson): Patients can sign up by calling 803-482-2249.

• 503 Chester Ave., Great Falls

Cailyn Derickson

The Herald

Cailyn Derickson is a city government and politics reporter for The Herald, covering York, Chester and Lancaster counties. Cailyn graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has previously worked at The Pilot and The News and Observer.