You’ve asked and we’ve answered these Beaufort County reader questions about coronavirus
Editor’s note: You can find more updated information and answers to other questions here.
We asked our readers what they wanted to know about coronavirus, and you delivered.
There were five presumed cases of COVID-19 and two confirmed cases in South Carolina Monday afternoon, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control officials.
None of the cases was in Beaufort County.
DHEC is spearheading the information and testing campaigns throughout the state, and has launched a website with resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Do you have questions? Go to bit.ly.com/virusBeaufortCounty and fill out the form. We’ll try to find an answer for you.
Here’s what you’ve asked so far:
Should we cancel our trip to Hilton Head Island?
There are no confirmed cases in Beaufort County as of Monday afternoon. Making the decision to travel is up to you, but there’s no reason to believe it is unsafe to be in Beaufort County.
What is a presumptive positive?
The State newspaper reports that a “presumptive positive” test means the patient tested positive for coronavirus, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to verify the results. The CDC needs to verify these results because the coronavirus test is new and hasn’t been used as much as tests for other diseases, said DHEC Epidemiologist Linda Bell.
What precautions are being taken at Savannah and Hilton Head airports?
Local airports are stepping up cleaning efforts and briefing staff on coronavirus symptoms, according to Lori Lynah, marketing director for Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and Jon Rembold, Beaufort County airports director.
Lynah said hand sanitizer kiosks are located throughout the terminal, and airport leadership is following guidelines from the CDC for air travelers.
Rembold added that carriers such as American Airlines are releasing their own precautions for coronavirus, and the airport will comply with those procedures.
Since neither the Savannah-Hilton Head nor the Hilton Head Island Airport offers air service to parts of the world more heavily impacted by the virus, neither is screening for coronavirus symptoms. Larger international airports such as those in Atlanta, New York City and Los Angeles are screening passengers upon arrival.
Is Parris Island doing anything different?
Preliminary screening has been implemented as a precautionary measure for recruits upon arrival to the Depot, said Capt. Bryan McDonnell, director of Communication Strategy and Operations at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Additionally, drill instructors continue to teach and enforce good hygiene habits throughout recruit training. This includes mandatory hand-washing before every meal, the carrying of hand sanitizer by every recruit, and nightly showers, McDonnell said.
MCRD Parris Island continues to monitor all updates by the CDC, WHO and DOD and is positioned to implement additional protective measures should the situation warrant.”
Has Alan Poulter been tested?
The Island Packet wrote about Alan Poulter of Hilton Head, who self-reported symptoms on Wednesday.
As of Monday, he had not been tested, but his girlfriend has tested negative for the virus. She was tested by her employer, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday.
She learned Friday that the test was negative for coronavirus. The hospital began treating her for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), Poulter said.
Poulter plans to see his general practitioner Tuesday.
As of Monday, the state has tested 31 people for the coronavirus, health officials said during a press conference with S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster.
What if I don’t have money to see a doctor?
The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston is offering free virtual care consultations and screenings to any South Carolinian experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms.
Anyone with symptoms can set up an online visit via http://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html or call 842 792-7000 for more information.
What is going to happen with RBC Heritage if coronavirus continues to spread?
As of Friday, there have been no announcements or changes to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing PGA Tour event, which is scheduled to take place on Hilton Head Island from April 13-19.
In a March 4 statement, PGA Tour said it has been “closely monitoring all available information related to the continued spread of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19. … After reviewing the relevant positions from the Centers of Disease Control and the World Health Organization, there are no planned schedule changes beyond what has already been decided with PGA TOUR Series-China.”
The statement also said the organization “will regularly review our schedule in light of revised CDC and WHO reports and make any updates as necessary.”
State health officials said Monday there is no reason to cancel community events in areas where there was no confirmation of the coronavirus spreading.
Is a sore throat a symptom?
The symptoms in a COVID-19 case may appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
What medication should one take when symptoms arrive? Are there any medications to take to fight the virus?
Treatment of the symptoms will vary, based on the severity and in conjunction with medical professionals. The CDC recommends no specific antiviral treatment. “People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately,” the agency’s website says.
What does DHEC do if a person is having symptoms but has not visited other countries?
If you are showing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, you should call your doctor, whether you have visited another country or not. Your doctor will contact DHEC if you need to be tested.
What kinds of precautions should I take besides hand washing?
DHEC recommends taking these steps in addition to washing your hands to stay healthy:
- Covering your cough
- Staying home when you’re sick
- Appropriately disposing of tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into
Could my online orders coming from China be infected with the virus?
Here’s what the CDC says about packages arriving through the mail: “There is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods.”
Do any of the area hospitals have the test for the virus yet?
All testing must be done in conjunction with South Carolina’s DHEC.
Local urgent care and emergency rooms do not have tests on site and urge people with symptoms to isolate themselves and call to coordinate testing. If you are showing symptoms, you should call your doctor.
DHEC has the capacity to test between 80 and 100 people per day, according to the agency.
As of Monday, DHEC had tested 31 individuals in the state. Twenty-four of the tests were negative and seven were positive.
Is there a number to call if you suspect an infection?
If you are showing symptoms, you should call your doctor.
For more general questions, the DHEC Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 is monitored from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
Have there been any mandatory evacuations or quarantines ordered?
No.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has not issued any statewide evacuations or quarantines of residents or non-residents.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 5:04 PM.
