SC officials offer COVID-19 safety tips for Thanksgiving. What to know in Beaufort Co.
It’s the second Thanksgiving of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Beaufort County currently is faring better with the coronavirus than most other regions in the United States, federal data show.
But cases are spiking again in the Upper Midwest, the Lowcountry still has a high percentage of unvaccinated residents, and Beaufort County was slammed last year by a wave of infections during the 2020 holiday season.
So what can people do now to protect themselves and their loved ones for Thanksgiving 2021?
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has issued a sweeping set of new safety recommendations for residents.
“It’s no secret that, during this pandemic, major holidays have led to increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” wrote Dr. Brannon Traxler, the agency’s director of public health, in a statement. “We want to avoid that over the next few months.”
Here’s what DHEC suggests:
Holiday gatherings
The agency has said that celebrating outside for Thanksgiving is safer than congregating indoors. People are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 if they attend crowded, poorly ventilated events inside, according to DHEC.
Residents are less likely to be exposed to the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, if they stay at least six feet apart from one another and limit the amount of time they spend with people they do not live with, DHEC says.
“Consider virtual celebrations,” DHEC also says, such as “enjoying holiday meals via video calls.”
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for it in the 10 days before a Thanksgiving event, or have been exposed to COVID-19 and have been told to quarantine in the 14 days before the event, do not go to the holiday gathering, the health agency has recommended.
Additionally, if you have an increased risk for severe COVID-19, or live with someone who does, do not attend a large Thanksgiving event, DHEC says.
A list of underlying health conditions that make people more likely to become extremely sick from the coronavirus can be found online at: bit.ly/UnderlyingConditionsCDC
DHEC says that residents should sanitize their hands and “limit contact with shared items,” too.
Face masks
“Wear a mask indoors and around others, and in crowded outdoor settings, regardless of your vaccination status,” the DHEC recommendations read.
Vaccines
The state is continuing to urge people to get a coronavirus vaccine.
Only about 53.6% of Beaufort County residents have been fully inoculated, DHEC data show. And just 41.8% of Jasper County residents have completed inoculation.
DHEC on Tuesday also endorsed new federal guidance that says all adults who previously received the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines may get a booster dose at least six months after completing their primary vaccination series, and adults 50 or older (and long-term care residents) who previously received either of the two vaccines should get a booster dose at least six months after completing their primary vaccination series.
Travel
DHEC has encouraged unvaccinated people to delay travel until they are fully inoculated.
However, if you have to travel and have yet to complete vaccination, DHEC says you should get a COVID-19 test one to three days before your trip, wear a mask in public and practice social distancing.
After returning home, get tested three to five days later and self-quarantine for seven days. If you do not get tested, self-quarantine for 10 days, DHEC recommends.
Avoid people at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 during the 14 days after getting back from your trip, the agency says.
Countywide data
Here are the latest Beaufort County coronavirus numbers from DHEC:
New cases reported Tuesday: 4 confirmed, 1 probable
New cases reported Monday: 14 confirmed, 5 probable
New cases reported Sunday: 13 confirmed, 1 probable
New deaths reported from Sunday to Tuesday: 0 confirmed, 0 probable
Seven-day average of new cases: 11 confirmed infections per day
Two-week incidence rate: 95.8 cases per 100,000 people
Vaccination rate: 53.6% of residents have been fully vaccinated
ZIP code data since July 1
Bluffton ZIP code, 29910: 2,841 cases
Hilton Head Island ZIP code, 29926: 1,103 cases
Hilton Head Island ZIP code, 29928: 460 cases
Okatie ZIP code, 29909: 769 cases
Beaufort ZIP code, 29902: 1,414 cases
St. Helena Island ZIP code, 29920: 443 cases
Note: Data in this story are current as of Tuesday afternoon.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 12:11 PM.
