As the debate over the COVID-19 vaccine continues to flood social media platforms, COVID-19 numbers are continuing to spike with the introduction of new virus variants.
In South Carolina, the death toll has surpassed 10,000 individuals since March 2020 when the pandemic began, The Post and Courier reported.
“COVID is on the rise…again. The variants are presenting new challenges for different age groups & straining our healthcare system,” state Sen. Thomas McElveen tweeted Aug. 11. “Please consider the vaccine. Please wear a mask. Please put your faith in healthcare professionals & common sense over politicians & talking heads.”
On Aug. 11, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported an additional 14 new COVID deaths and one probable death, bringing the number of confirmed and probable deaths to 10,007.
In response to the newest COVID-19 surge, South Carolina hospitals have tightened the visitation policies for family members and friends of patients with the virus, The Post and Courier reported.
Typically, COVID-19 patients are no permitted visitors unless they are pregnant or are predicted to be nearing end of life.
These patients are permitted to have one support person who must be prescreened prior to visitation and must wear a mask at all times, however, policies can differ between hospitals.
