Coronavirus updates for Sept. 14: 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 8,400 COVID cases in SC last week
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, Sept. 13, reported 8,443 COVID-19 cases and six coronavirus-related deaths for the week ending Sept. 10. 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 18,300 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.
Data shows COVID-19 cases are down nearly 33% compared with this time last week, with hospitalizations falling about 9%. As of Sept. 10, an average of 450 people in the state were hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 46 patients being treated in intensive care and 13 patients on ventilators, the latest data shows.
The omicron subvariant BA.5 accounted for about 80% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week of Aug. 27, followed by BA.4 (9.7%) and BA.4.6 (9.7%), 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 53% of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and nearly 61% have received at least one dose, state health data shows.
Updated COVID booster shot protects against multiple variants, SC DHEC says
A new COVID-19 vaccine booster shot that protects against multiple strains, including the latest dominant variant, is now available in South Carolina, according to state health officials.
The updated shot arrived at vaccine providers across the state following authorization by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The State reported. Now, the state’s public health agency is encouraging residents to roll up their sleeves.
“The authorization of these updated booster shots is another example of how science evolves, just as viruses do, to equip us with the most effective means possible for protecting human health,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC public health director, said in a news release.
“I encourage all South Carolinians to stay current on their recommended COVID-19 vaccinations and for those who are eligible to receive this safe and effective booster to do so once they’re available in the coming days,” Traxler added.
The updated booster offers improved protection against the Omicron variant and its subvariants, including Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, the newspaper reported. Added spike proteins restore protection and make the shots more effective against multiple virus strains.
For more information on the new booster shots and where to find a vaccine provider, read the full story here.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 6:56 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates for Sept. 14: Here’s what to know in South Carolina this week."