COVID-19 cases are declining across the nation. And while cases in South Carolina are not falling at the same speed as in other states, they are also declining. Dr. Helmut Albrecht, Infectious Disease Specialist, says South Carolina is declining slower than other states. "They are falling dramatically in our state," Albrecht said. "They are just not falling as fast as in some other states." Albrecht says while South Carolina's positivity rate is.
Credit: Kayland Hagwood, Zoom
Dr. Helmut Albrecht
“The vaccine is not 100 percent effective,” Dr. Albrecht said. “If both parties have had the vaccine, it’s going to be extraordinarily unlikely that you’ll find a scenario where you’ll transmit this, but in large scale settings with a lot of yelling, chanting, coughing, sneezing people, it’s a different scenario.”
He says those vaccinated should consider the risk of the gathering or activity before participating, keeping in mind that, they could still get or pass along the virus.
“It depends, first on your risk, so a visit with your healthy brother is different than a visit to your grandmother who has recently had a lung transplant,” Dr. Albrecht said. “I think you can expand your bubble. I think you can have the dinners that we told you not to have for Christmas…. You’re less likely to pay a price for those or for your errors that you always make, but it’s still not enough to gamble in high risk situat
While the pace at which COVID-19 has slowed based on new confirmed cases per day, there is anxiety that there may be another surge. It could be caused by a slow roll-out in vaccinations. It could be triggered by variants that spread rapidly or are more deadly than the one most prevalent in the U.S. […]
Smokers included in Phase 1C of vaccine eligibility
According to the CDC, those with underlying health conditions are eligible to get a vaccine in Phase 1C in South Carolina. Smoking is on that list. Author: Eleanor Tabone (WLTX) Updated: 11:12 PM EST February 8, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C. As the vaccination process continues for people in Phase 1A, concerns are being raised about those in Phase 1C.
Stephen Summerlin says he s been smoking for more than a decade, a habit which started in his early thirties. He says he smokes half a pack a day. Something I never should have picked up, he said.