State health officials are currently monitoring 13 people for the novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. grew to 80.
The fast-spreading virus has sickened several people in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, but no infections have been reported in South Carolina.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has completed monitoring on 49 patients, according to the agency’s website. Another 13 patients were under observation.
In multiple news releases, state health officials have called the virus a “rapidly evolving public health event” that they’re taking seriously.
“As the state’s lead public health agency, DHEC is taking proactive steps to be prepared for potential cases in South Carolina, including remaining updated on and following the latest Centers for Disease Control recommendations related to surveillance, evaluation and response,” a March 3 statement said.
Those steps also include developing tools to investigate suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases; providing training to epidemiology staff across the state to investigate cases; communicating with hospitals about and reporting cases; and conducting educational outreach with schools, businesses, state agencies and other outlets.
Rick Toomey, DHEC director, said the agency’s public health laboratory has been authorized to test for the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The agency has the capacity to test approximately 100 samples a day.
“We’re nowhere near that, so our capacity is robust,” Toomey said at a news conference held in Columbia earlier this week.
He said the lab’s testing turnaround is 24 to 48 hours from the moment that a sample is received.
“Most times it’s quicker than that,” he said.
The coronavirus has sickened more than 95,000 people worldwide and killed at least 3,245 as of this week, according to official counts. Most of those deaths occurred in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
There have been a total of 80 confirmed and presumptive positive cases in the U.S., according to the latest Centers for Disease Control totals. At least nine people have died.
Handwashing is key to prevent respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Learn more at https://t.co/WVVgjBATFV pic.twitter.com/5CQoItkGss
— SCDHEC (@scdhec) March 4, 2020
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