SC Health Service Doctor Warns of ‘Perfect Storm’ for COVID-19 Infection in Children

COLUMBIA, SC (WCSC) – A doctor with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said the state has its highest number of new cases in people under the age of 20.

Dr Jonathan Knoche said the 11 to 20-year-olds accounted for the most new cases, but said the largest percentage increase in new cases was in the 0-10 age group.

“One of the biggest concerns about these numbers is that many of these cases are among those who are too young to get vaccinated,” he said. “So they are relying on my parents, older siblings, and the rest of the eligible population in their community, to protect them through vaccination masking and other safety protocols.”

Knoche attributed the increase in cases among young people, in part, to the children being together in groups at school.

“What we’re seeing, I think, across the state right now is in an environment with a highly transmissible variant of the Delta strain of COVID-19, where kids are now congregating in school settings, with some people wearing masks but I would say there is probably a large proportion who do not wear masks. It’s kind of a perfect storm for a higher number of COVID cases in children, ”Knoche said.

He cited a study from researchers in North Carolina and Georgia indicating that constant wearing of face masks could prevent up to 50% of cases that might otherwise occur in children in school. But he said it is difficult to determine why the state has such a high infection rate compared to other states.

Explaining a recent update to guidelines for schools, he said the latest DHEC recommendations that students should maintain a distance of between three and six feet to avoid being considered “close contact” more closely. aligned with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended.

He said there is no strong evidence that the Delta variant causes more severe disease in any age group, including children.

“The problem is because it is so much more transmissible, that it replicates in the population and spreads much faster in the population,” he said. “So in number, in volume, we have more pediatric cases.”

He noted that the majority of children recover from COVID-19 infection, but also said there have so far been 15 deaths in the pediatric population from COVID-19 while, the year last, none died of the flu.

Doctor answers questions about ivermectin

Knoche answered questions about the drug ivermectin, which is widely used as an antiparasitic treatment in cattle and for some applications in humans. Some have claimed that this could be a possible preventive for COVID-19.

“Ivermectin is not authorized or approved by the FDA for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19,” he said.

He also said that the National Institute of Health had not found sufficient data to recommend the drug as a treatment for COVID-19.

“While research is ongoing, taking a drug for unapproved use can be dangerous,” he said. “Currently, ivermectin is approved for use in humans at very specific doses, primarily for certain parasitic worm infections, but not to treat COVID-19 and ingestion. Large doses of this medicine, as has happened with people taking highly concentrated animal ivermectin medicines can be dangerous. and cause serious damage. The safest and most effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get a full vaccine as soon as possible. “

Unvaccinated people still account for the majority of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths

He also said that the latest DHEC analysis showed that from July 16 to August 15, 86% of new cases, 72% of hospitalizations and 78% of deaths were among those who had not yet been vaccinated.

He called the study “further evidence” that vaccinations are working and that the state’s vaccination rate is increasing with “further help to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

“So many of these cases can be prevented with vaccination and masking,” Knoche said. But he said there are additional factors that would also help prevent the spread, such as maintaining physical distance, frequent hand washing, and self-isolation if you’re not feeling well.

Knoche said the DHEC is looking at the data to determine the percentage of people who have had COVID-19 in the past but have been re-infected. He said the “vast majority” of re-infections occur in the unvaccinated, but could not provide an exact percentage, saying the agency is still reviewing the data.

“We have said it before and we will continue to say it: we can end this pandemic if we increase our vaccination rates,” Knoche said. “To do this, we need all South Carolinians to do their part to protect themselves and their loved ones. “

DHEC has reported more than 16,000 new cases of COVID-19 from data collected over the weekend. The agency reported more than 5,100 new cases on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the state had recorded more than 740,000 cases and 10,684 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

DHEC’s director of public health, Dr Brannon Traxler, said last week that vaccines are “the way we are ending this pandemic,” and said she hoped the recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the FDA would encourage those who were hesitant to take the vaccine to do so.

Traxler insisted that the three readily available vaccines, the Pfizer and Moderna two-dose vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine “are safe and effective.”

“As we have been saying for many months, and will continue to say, we need as many people as possible to get the vaccine because it doesn’t just protect you. This helps protect our children under 12, who cannot yet be vaccinated, ”she said.

DHEC officials also lobbied for the wearing of face masks by students and teachers in schools.

Two Charleston County schools were the last to announce they will go virtual starting Wednesday as the number of COVID-19 cases or quarantines increases.

These two schools, Charles Pinckney and Sullivan’s Island Elementary, joined Early College High School in the Charleston County School District.

THE LIST: Lowcountry districts, schools announce their intention to go virtual

In addition to these four Charleston County schools, four Georgetown County schools, Dorchester District 4 and Colleton County School District have also gone virtual.

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