Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Feb. 23
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 550 new COVID cases reported in SC
At least 1.14 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and at least 14,155 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday, Feb. 23, reported 586 new COVID-19 cases and 11 coronavirus-related deaths. There were also 413 probable cases and three probable deaths.
The omicron variant accounted for 100% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week ending Feb. 6, state health data shows. The DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to identify new coronavirus strains, according to the agency’s website.
At least 923 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Feb. 22, including 177 patients being treated in intensive care units and 91 on ventilators. Data shows roughly 10% of hospitalizations in South Carolina are coronavirus-related.
As of Feb. 23, almost 13% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said 5% or lower means there is a low level of community spread.
Fifty-four percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and almost 63% have received at least one dose, health officials say.
Can you get sick with omicron variant twice? What experts say
Coronavirus cases are on the decline, but public health experts warn that the virus is still prevalent — especially the highly infectious omicron variant.
A new study by researchers from Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut suggests it’s possible to be reinfected with the omicron variant after getting over an initial omicron coronavirus infection, which has since morphed into two new subvariants, McClatchy News reported.
The report, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that reinfections with omicron subvariant BA.2 — better known as “stealth omicron” — can happen soon after a person gets sick with the “original” omicron subvariant BA.1. However, this is rare, researchers said.
Omicron reinfections were reported “mostly in young unvaccinated individuals with mild disease” and didn’t lead to hospitalization or death, researchers said.
Read the full story here.
St. Patrick’s Day events to return to North Myrtle Beach
St. Patrick’s Day events will make a comeback in North Myrtle Beach next month after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Sun News.
The North Myrtle Beach City Council green-lit plans for the annual celebration during a meeting on Feb. 21, the newspaper reported.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, on Main Street between Ocean Boulevard and Cedar Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parade will take place the same day from 9 to 11 a.m.
Revelers can enjoy live music, vendors and plenty of food.
More than 30,000 people are expected to attend, event organizers told the newspaper.
Read the full story here.
Chemical in COVID test kit could cause illness if ingested, experts warn
A chemical found in some over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 tests is fueling an uptick in calls to poison control centers, McClatchy News reported.
Only small quantities of sodium azide are found in the popular testing kits, but experts warn even small amounts can cause illness, including dizziness, headache, heart palpitations and high blood pressure if ingested. Larger amounts can be deadly.
“Sodium azide is a very potent poison, and ingestion of relatively low doses can cause significant toxicity,” according to the National Capital Poison Center. “Fortunately, the amount of sodium azide in most rapid antigen kits is much lower than the amount expected to cause poisoning if swallowed by an adult.”
Sodium azide is used in the liquid solution included in the test kits and trigger a reaction indicating a positive or negative test sample.
For more information, read the full story here.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 7:04 AM with the headline "Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Feb. 23."