New COVID-19 case numbers trending down in Lowcountry
Bluffton Today
The number of new daily coronavirus cases in the Lowcountry has been on a relative decline since a peak around early January.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control statistics show that a stretch of fewer new cases from mid-August to early November was followed by a steady increase for more than two months.
The rise peaked Jan. 6 in Beaufort County, which had a record 268 new cases reported that day. Jasper County also had its highest case count Jan. 6, with 36.
New case reports remained high for most of January, with both counties surpassing the previous peaks of last summer.
Lowcountry hospitals administer first round of COVID-19 vaccinations
Bluffton Today
Hilton Head Regional Healthcare and Beaufort Memorial have received shipments of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and started administering the first doses to employees.
Both hospitals are in the process of vaccinating everyone on staff who opts to receive it. The decision to be vaccinated is left to employees and there currently is no mandate.
Hilton Head Regional Healthcare was the first organization in the Lowcountry to administer the vaccine, doing so Dec. 16. The vaccine is administered in two doses, with the second scheduled for Jan. 6.
By Dec. 16, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control had sent 43,000 doses of the vaccine to medical providers like Hilton Head Regional Healthcare across the state.
First Trident Health workers receive COVID-19 vaccine
VIDEO: First Trident Health workers receive COVID-19 vaccine By Patrick Phillips | December 16, 2020 at 3:50 AM EST - Updated December 16 at 5:36 PM
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A critical care nurse became the first Trident Health employee to receive the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 Wednesday afternoon.
Anthony Sims, who has worked for Trident since 2015, received his first dose of the vaccine shortly after 1 p.m.
Trident and Summerville Medical Centers began inoculating their physicians and staff members with the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
Trident Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lee Biggs said more than 95% of the health system’s physicians have said they will get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available.