These 7 SC counties should mask up for COVID again because cases are so high, CDC says

Patrick McCreless
Contributed photo

More people in South Carolina counties should wear masks after recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, federal health officials recommend.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest community levels map shows seven counties with high levels of COVID-19. This comes following a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, proceeded by months of low rates of the virus across the state.

The latest map also shows 14 counties with medium levels and 25 counties with low levels.

The CDC recommends communities with high levels of COVID-19 wear masks indoors in public and on public transportation. It also recommends staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, getting tested if you have symptoms and, if you are at high risk for severe illness, to take additional precautions.

For communities at medium levels, the CDC recommends people wear masks if they have symptoms, have had a positive test or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Cases of COVID have risen steadily in many parts of the state along with flu over the last two months. The flu season this year has been the worst the state has experienced in a decade, some health officials have said.

The latest South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control statistics show that as of Dec. 17, cases of COVID-19 were up 15.1% over the previous week. Deaths related to COVID-19 were up 9.5% over the previous week.

The department reported 23 COVID-related deaths for the week.

The COVID-19 vaccine and pediatric and bivalent boosters are available at a variety of pharmacies statewide. To find a nearby provider, visit scdhec.gov/vaxlocator.

Here are the seven counties with high COVID-19 levels, according to the CDC.

  • Pickens

  • Greenville

  • Spartanburg

  • Newberry

  • Fairfield

  • Lexington

  • Dillon

Here are the 14 counties with medium levels of COVID.

  • Oconee

  • Anderson

  • Abbeville

  • McCormick

  • Greenwood

  • Saluda

  • Laurens

  • Cherokee

  • Union

  • Chester

  • Kershaw

  • Richland

  • Sumter

  • Marion

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