SC, local statistics show increase in unvaccinated people

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW / WAGT) – Figures from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control confirm what health experts have told us and what we are seeing in CSRA hospitals: the The current outbreak of COVID-19 is largely among people who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The agency said a June analysis found more than 90% of COVID-19 cases and deaths in June and 86% of hospitalizations were in people who were not fully vaccinated. Then the agency found similar results for July.

In July, the agency reported 26,848 cases among southern Carolinians. The agency said:

Of the 14,262 reported cases in which the agency was able to determine vaccination status, 12,491 (88%) were not fully immunized.
Of the 550 people reported who were hospitalized for COVID and whose vaccination status could be determined, 424 (77%) were not fully vaccinated.
Of the 110 reported deaths from COVID for which vaccination status could be determined, 87 (79%) were not fully immunized.

“Clearly, we are seeing an increase in rupture cases, hospitalizations and deaths for the month of July,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC director of public health.

Revolutionary cases are those in which a person is infected despite having been vaccinated.

The increase in highly transmissible variants like delta and delayed vaccination rates has resulted in an overall increase in these categories, Traxler said.

“But it’s important to note that cases, hospitalizations and deaths among fully vaccinated residents are still rare,” Traxler said. “And in most cases of a breakthrough, the person has no symptoms or very mild symptoms that go away within a few days. “

An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days or more after completing their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The agency stressed that breakthrough cases are expected with any type of vaccine. While vaccines can prevent catching a virus, the main purpose of inoculation is to prevent serious illness if the virus is contracted.

“The data still shows that vaccinations can end this pandemic if enough people are willing to roll up their sleeves,” Traxler said.

“We are at the most crucial point to date in our fight against COVID-19. Our children are going back to school and more and more people are visiting companies and attending large-scale events. We need everyone to come together for the same goal of stopping the spread of COVID-19. This means getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and following other safety and health protocols. “

How are local hospitals doing

The current outbreak of COVID, fueled by the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, continues to keep hospitals full of more COVID inpatients than they saw in early July, when the number of inpatients fell to single digits.

The peak on the right side of this graph shows the current outbreak of COVID.

Here’s a look at Tuesday’s inpatient totals for local hospitals:

Augusta University Hospital reported 104 COVID inpatients, down six from the previous day. Of the 104 hospitalized patients, five were fully vaccinated. Of the eight on ventilators and 14 in intensive care, none were vaccinated.
Doctors’ hospital reported 57 COVID inpatients on Tuesday, down three from Monday. The hospital said 54 of Tuesday’s hospital patients are not vaccinated.
The Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center reported 61 COVID hospital patients on Tuesday, up from one on Monday.
Augusta University Health had 93 patients, up five from Monday. Eight of AU patients are children, up from one since Monday.

Will Augusta offer incentives?

The Augusta Commission is due to vote today on whether to offer incentives to help increase the number of residents receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

The incentives would come in the form of $ 100 gift cards to people who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or their second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

If approved, the incentive program will be funded by the U.S. stimulus package and would be open to residents of Richmond County who have not yet been fully immunized.

Local leaders hope the incentive will help the city meet its goal of having at least 10,000 residents fully immunized by the end of the year, according to a city press release.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 32.6% of Richmond County residents are fully immunized.

SC leaders provide update on schools

South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, and members of the South Carolina Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss recommendations for COVID-19 school operations.

Watch the press conference here:

Also in the news …

COVID HITS CHILDREN: The American Academy of Pediatrics reported more than 121,000 cases of COVID in children last week. This is 18% of all cases nationwide. COVID-19 has been on the rise in children since early July, as the highly contagious delta variant began to take hold.

REINFORCEMENT PLANS: U.S. experts should recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after receiving their second dose of the vaccine, to ensure long-lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant breaks down. spread across the country.

KEMP PLAN: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said the state would spend an additional $ 125 million to increase the staff of hospitals funding 1,500 additional healthcare workers through early December. Kemp also announced that it was closing state offices on the Friday before Labor Day to encourage unvaccinated employees to get vaccinated. But he continued his opposition to warrants for vaccines or masks.

SCHOOLS CLOSING: The Screven County school system joins Burke, Glascock and Taliaferro counties in closed campuses due to increased COVID-19 cases. Students in Screven County will learn from home until Labor Day, then revert to new protection protocols in classrooms.

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