Starting Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, the TourHealth COVID-19 testing site currently located at 2600 Bull St. will be moving to Columbia Place Mall, 7201 Two Notch Road. The new location will offer both testing and vaccine services and provides eight lanes of testing capability to easily meet peak demand with maximum speed and efficiency. In addition, at-home saliva test kits will be available for quick pickup, complete with paid shipping to the laboratory. The hours…
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) on Sunday updated its COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools booklet to reflect the latest COVID data and trends. This recently updated guidance compliments the DHEC School and Childcare Exclusion List, which outlines the exclusion requirements for schools and child care settings for communicable diseases. The booklet provides information on quarantine and isolation periods for students and teachers and when they can safely…
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced January 5 that it recommends children as young as 12 receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster at least five months after they finish the primary vaccine series, and the South Carolina Department of Health of Control (DHEC) supports this recommendation for having children “maximally vaccinated” against COVID-19, meaning they have received their initial vaccine series plus a booster. The DHEC term “maximally vaccinated” is equivalent…
COLUMBIA, S.C. – On New Year’s Day, South Carolina officially surpassed the one million mark for total COVID-19 cases, a milestone reached as the state is in the middle of an unprecedented wave of new cases spurred by the omicron variant. On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported a total of 50,653 cases for the previous week – the highest weekly total of the entire pandemic. “In less than…
COLUMBIA, S.C. ― As COVID-19 cases reach record levels in South Carolina, hospitals and doctors’ offices are once again being overwhelmed by patients with COVID-19, the flu, and other illnesses or injuries. To ease the burden on our state’s healthcare systems and dedicated medical professionals, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) remind residents that most COVID-positive individuals with mild to moderate symptoms can safely recover…
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is updating its isolation and quarantine guidance to reflect certain aspects of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated federal guidance issued earlier this week. Below are key points of DHEC’s current recommendations: If You Tested Positive (Isolation): If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to isolate regardless of your vaccination status: Stay home and avoid in-person contact with…
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Today, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed the state’s first three reported cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. These cases were identified via whole genome sequencing by the Medical University of South Carolina, and DHEC has confirmed all three individuals were contacted for case investigation and contact tracing. All three cases are adults from the Lowcountry region. Per DHEC policy, all personal information provided to us through…
• People age 16 years and older who received Pfizer-BioNTech and those 18 and older who received Moderna COVID-19 vaccines should get a booster six months after completing the initial vaccination series. • All people ages 18 or older who received a single dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine, should receive a second shot at least two months after the first shot. • Individuals who received Janssen (J&J) may receive a Pfizer…
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The CDC on Friday expanded its COVID-19 booster recommendation for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine brands to include all adults, ages 18 and up. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) supports this action and strongly encourages all vaccinated residents to get their booster shot once they meet the necessary timeframe. DHEC has updated its COVID-19 booster page to reflect the new CDC recommendation. The federal agency says adults…
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved on Tuesday the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) supports this action and is excited to work with vaccine providers to ensure access for ages 5-11 throughout the state. Parents can start getting their children in this age group vaccinated today. “Approval of the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11 is a major step forward…
