Mobile units for coronavirus testing will be in Beaufort County this week, Jasper next
New “pop-up” coronavirus testing sites will be available this week and next in Beaufort and Jasper counties
as state health officials ramp up testing in South Carolina.
Earlier this month, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control set a goal of testing 110,000 residents in both May and June. If those 220,000 tests are completed, that will mean an additional 2% of the population has been tested, DHEC said.
The plan also focused on checking for COVID-19 in nursing homes, minority communities and rural areas across the state.
More than 117,100 tests have been performed in South Carolina, with 15,801 of them being “positive,” according to DHEC data released Tuesday evening. A note on the data says the total positive tests doesn’t equal the total number of positive cases because some individuals have been tested more than once.
As of Tuesday, Beaufort County has had 342 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths related to the illness since the pandemic began. Jasper County has had 39 cases and two deaths.
Nearby coronavirus testing
Here’s where the mobile testing clinics will be in Beaufort and Jasper counties, according to DHEC’s website include:
▪ May 28 and 29 at the Sheldon Medical Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
▪ June 4 and 5 at the Ridgeland Medical Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All four clinics are provided by the Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services. To pre-register for testing, which is preferred, call 843-987-7555.
Testing can also be done at other medical centers in Beaufort County. Jasper County has none currently listed. Check DHEC’s listings for hours and requirements, such as a referral or appointment.
The locations listed online are:
▪ Beaufort Memorial Hospital (drive-thru)
▪ Lowcountry Urgent Care locations on Lady’s Island and in Beaufort (onsite)
▪ Main Street Medical on Hilton Head Island (onsite)
▪ Sea Pines Circle Immediate Care (onsite)
Antibody testing
A different initiative undertaken by a private company is testing blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.
OneBlood, a blood donation center in the southeastern United States, has begun the FDA-approved test that will “indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus,” the center’s website says.
The presence of antibodies does not mean the donor is immune to the coronavirus, but transfusing the plasma with antibodies to a patient sick with the virus can help their immune system and “potentially help them recover.”
Those wanting to donate blood must make an appointment and wear a face mask during the donation.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 2:21 PM.
