Even with record COVID cases reported, the actual number is likely higher, DHEC says
The massive coronavirus surge is likely more widespread than known to South Carolina’s health department, state doctors tasked with keeping up with COVID-19 said at a Friday news conference.
That’s because more people are using at-home tests that don’t have to be reported to the Department of Health and Environmental Control, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, the state’s director of public health.
“The trade-off for people to know if they’re positive is worth the potential of under reporting,” she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked state health departments not to collect at-home test results, DHEC doctors said.
DHEC doesn’t want to discourage people from doing at-home tests by requiring them to send in results, said Dr. Edward Simmer, the agency’s director.
Friday, South Carolina hit a record number of new cases reported by DHEC. The state reported nearly 9,000 new cases, which surpassed the previous high a year ago of 7,686 of reported new cases. That latest number of cases doesn’t include those discovered by at-home testing.
The omicron variant has pushed South Carolina into one of its most infectious weeks since the virus hit South Carolina in early 2020. The state has added nearly 27,000 new cases in the past week.
Even with under reporting, DHEC is exploring ways to encourage at-home testing. The agency is considering giving people at-home tests to alleviate lines and waits at testing locations.
Simmer called the boom in infections “very concerning” and described it as rippling through workers and affecting people’s lives who aren’t even sick by way of disruptions to everyday life.
But he described a simple solution.
“How do we get out of this? We continue to get people vaccinated” and given booster shots, Simmer said. “If everyone was vaccinated we would not be here today.”
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Even with record COVID cases reported, the actual number is likely higher, DHEC says."