SC records first two MIS-C cases, one in the Pee Dee; Horry surge continues, CC pace remains slow

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     A rare childhood illness associated with COVID-19 has come to South Carolina, with cases confirmed in the Pee Dee and Midland regions as the Palmetto State, including Horry County, continues to deal with a surge of coronavirus.

     North Carolina’s alarming COVID case increase continues, too, while Columbus County is keeping a slow but study pace of new infections.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• MIS-C case in the Pee Dee
• Second day of 200+ COVID cases in Horry
• CC records eight new infections, three in TC area

MIS-C case in the Pee Dee

     A rare COVID-19 related illness that has been found in children and teens has been confirmed for the first time in South Carolina, the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Sunday.

     That news came just a day after DHEC reported the state’s first COVID related pediatric death, a child younger than five in the Midlands.

     Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) has been confirmed in two children, both younger than 10, on each in the Pee Dee and Midland regions of the state.

     Horry County is in the Pee Dee Region. DHEC did not provide more specific information on where the cases were found.

     MIS-C can occur in some children and teens who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus.

     “We continue to see more and more young people, especially those under 20, contracting and spreading COVID-19, and we know MIS-C is a threat to our youngest South Carolinians,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell. “MIS-C is a serious health complication linked to COVID-19 and is all the more reason why we must stop the spread of this virus.

     “Anyone and everyone is susceptible to COVID-19 as well as additional health risks associated with it, which is why all of us must stop the virus by wearing a mask and stay six feet away from others. These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children.”

     The first reports of this syndrome came from the United Kingdom in late April. Cases in the United States were first reported in New York City in early May.

     DHEC sent a health alert informing healthcare providers and facilities of the condition on May 15, requesting that all providers report suspected cases of MIS-C to the agency.

     Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, and feeling tired.

     DHEC recommends parents and caregivers learn and watch for the signs for MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face, and severe abdominal pain.

     More information on MIS-C can be found at cdc.gov/coronavirus. For a direct link to the MIS-C page visit here.

Second day of 200+ COVID cases in Horry

     COVID-19 has claimed another life in Horry, as the county has recorded its second day in a row of more than 200 newly confirmed coronavirus cases.

     With the new death the county has lost 69 lives to COVID-19. Another 208 newly confirmed cases brings Horry’s pandemic total to 5,791 cases.

     Zip Code data shows 11 newly confirmed cases in the Loris area, 4 more for Green Sea, those pandemic totals now 332 and 28.

     South Carolina recorded 1,952 newly confirmed COVID cases Sunday, 10 more deaths, bringing the pandemic totals now 56,485 and 950 respectively.

     COVID related hospitalizations took another jump in South Carolina Sunday, 1,472 people in the hospital due to the coronavirus, 76 more than Sunday.

CC records eight new infections, three in TC area

     Eight Columbus County residents are newly confirmed as infected with COVID-19, Sunday’s DHHS data reported on its online dashboard showed.

     Columbus County reports COVID details twice a week, DHHS releases information daily, though its data sometimes lags behind the county.

     Eight new cases recorded Sunday brings the pandemic total to 615 for Columbus County, it’s death total of 39 unchanged in recent days.

     Zip Code data showed three new cases in the Tabor City and Hallsboro areas, one each in Fair Bluff, Evergreen, Lake Waccamaw, and Delco.

     Tabor City, the Zip Code data shows, has recorded 143 COVID infections and 11 related deaths during the pandemic.

     North Carolina reported 1,908 new COVID infections and four new related deaths, the NC Department of Health and Human Services online dashboard showed Sunday. That brings the state’s pandemic total to 85,701 people infected with the coronavirus, 1,503 killed.

     Hospitalizations fell by 23 Sunday, the DHEC data showed, to 1,070.

Updates

     Look for continuing coverage on local impacts from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak here and in the Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.