Vaccine date set for the oldest in Columbus; Health Dept. pivots update approach; two more die in Horry

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Vaccination dates have been scheduled for Columbus County’s oldest residents as the county health department pivots to state data for regular pandemic updates and two new COVID-19 associated deaths have been recorded in neighboring Horry County.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• CC Health will begin vaccinations for those 7+ on Jan. 11
• Columbus turns to state dashboard for COVID updates
• Coronavirus claims two more Horry lives, infects 190 more

CC Health will begin vaccinations for those 75+ on Jan. 11

     COVID-19 vaccinations for Columbus County’s oldest residents will begin on Jan. 11, 2021 the Columbus County Health Department announced on the last day of 2020.

     Currently in phase 1a of the NC Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 vaccination, health department leaders expect to move to phase 1b on Jan. 11, 2021, an agency news release said.

     Phase 1a includes health care workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19, including staff responsible for cleaning and maintenance in those areas, health care workers involved in administering the COVID-19 vaccine, and long-term care staff and residents—people in skilled nursing facilities and in adult, family and group homes.

     Phase 1b will begin with Group 1, which includes anyone 75 and older that would like to receive his or her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

     Eligible residents may call the Health Department to schedule an appointment to receive the first of two doses of the COVID-19 beginning Jan. 7, 2021. That number is 910-640-6615 Ext. 7006.

Columbus turns to state dashboard for COVID updates

     In the first of its usual bi-weekly COVID-19 updates since Dec. 31, the Columbus County Health Department reported the agency will instead share data from a state dashboard.

     An agency news release linked the decision to “a surge of COVID-19 cases over the last three weeks.”

     Information from the NC Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Dashboard will allow residents “to track the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Columbus County.

     “We will periodically provide updates on the number of people that have recovered from COVID-19 in Columbus County along with any other important information about COVID-19 and Columbus County,” the news release said.

     A link to the dashboard is here.

     Surge advice: “It is critical for Columbus County residents to understand that the community transmission of COVID-19 is widespread in Columbus County,” the news release said. “The Columbus County Health Department is urging county residents to take the measures necessary to protect themselves, their families, and their community from COVID-19.

     “If you leave home, practice your Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Wait 6 feet apart and avoid close contact. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.”

     Information on prevention, symptoms, reputable sources, and other important information visit here or call the Columbus County Health Department at 910-640-6615.

     Zip Code data from the NC Department of Health and Human Services showed six newly confirmed COVID cases for the Whiteville area, three for Tabor City, and five for Chadbourn.

     Riegelwood, with a single new confirmed case, reached a pandemic total of 200.

     Pandemic case/death totals from DHHS, which may lag that of the most recent Columbus County update, includes: Columbus County, 3,629/83; Whiteville, 1,092/25; Tabor City, 1,059/23; Chadbourn, 396/9; Clarendon, 120/2; Nakina, 97/2; Cerro Gordo, 90/2; and Fair Bluff, 78/5.

     North Carolina reported 6,715 new COVID infections Thursday, and 19 associated deaths, bringing those pandemic totals to 539,545 and 6,748 respectively.

     Statewide 3,493 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Wednesday, up by 154 from Wednesday.

Coronavirus claims two more Horry lives, infects 190 more

     With a predicted post-Christmas COVID surge looming, and expectations of indoor gatherings to bring in 2021, Horry County recorded another two coronavirus associated deaths and nearly 200 newly confirmed infections on New Year’s Eve day.

     Confirmed COVID-19 deaths for Horry County have reached 262.

     Supporting data from South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control provided a Christmas Day date of death for an elderly Horry resident, no data for the second recorded death. It also indicated three “probable” COVID associated deaths of Horry residents, those deaths on Dec. 24, 26 and 27.

     Another 190 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Horry were indicated by the DHEC data, including 17 for the Loris Zip Code, 5 in Green Sea.

     Pandemic COVID case totals include 17,985 for Horry County, including 1,062 for the Loris Zip Code, 137 for Green Sea.

     South Carolina has recorded 283,424 COVID cases during the pandemic, 4,885 deaths, those numbers up by 3,234 and 39 respectively since Wednesday.

     Statewide 2,024 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Thursday, that number up by 24 from Wednesday.

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.