However, this past weekend, the state reported more than 10,000 new cases of COVID-19 on back-to-back days — an unseen increase even during the winter and summer 2021 peaks.
But the governor and health officials said the increase in cases isn’t leading to a rise in hospitalizations since vaccines appear to prevent more severe outcomes with the new omicron variant.
“We’re not in a situation now where anyone needs to panic. This is nothing like it was a year ago; we’ve seen this before,” McMaster said at a news conference.
However, the rising COVID-19 numbers did prompt the South Carolina health board to put together precautions for the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Dr. Edward Simmer, the director of DHEC, said proper precautions, including wearing masks and getting vaccinated, can provide necessary protection.
“COVID is here to stay. We’re not going to get rid of it. But working together we can control it. We can limit the impact it has on our lives,” Simmer told the DHEC board Wednesday.
According to DHEC, 62 percent of eligible people in South Carolina have received at least one shot, and 52 percent are fully protected.
Simmer said he and his staff are closely monitoring the number of available beds in hospitals across the state. According to South Carolina DHEC, 82.2 percent of adult hospital beds are currently occupied. The number of COVID-19 patients in state hospitals is about 67 percent higher than a week ago, and the number of patients on ventilators rose more than 50 percent.
Simmer stated the omicron variant is hitting the 21-40 year age group the hardest, causing staffing shortages in emergency rooms and urgent care clinics.
Additionally, thirty-seven children were hospitalized this week with COVID-19, one less than the peak last year. However, Simmer agreed with the governor and said there is no need to close schools. Instead, he suggested providing teachers and workers with the best quality masks. McMaster also suggested using billions of dollars of federal COVID-19 education relief money coming to the state to upgrade air filtering systems, have rapid testing on site for students and other safety measures.
“There is a better outcome for our students from the educational and socialization standpoint when they are in school,” Simmer said.
Simmer said the omicron variant will continue spreading, even though some people received three different shots. He pointed out other countries where the spread of the variant started earlier already appear to be past its peak.
McMaster seemed to share his outlook when he promised reporters there will be room in hospitals for anyone sick and urged anyone unvaccinated to talk to their doctor or someone else they trust with medical decisions.
“South Carolina is on a positive path. There’s no need to panic. Be calm. Be happy,” the governor said. “We just had a great Christmas season. Business is booming. Our path to prosperity is brighter and brighter.”
