Coronavirus updates for Aug. 31: Here’s what to know in South Carolina this week

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back each week for updates

More than 12,700 COVID cases in SC last week

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, Aug. 30, reported 12,772 COVID-19 cases and 11 coronavirus-related deaths for the week ending Aug. 27. The counts include probable and confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.

At least 1.6 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and more than 18,200 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.

Data shows COVID-19 cases are up about 22% compared with this time last week, with hospitalizations falling nearly 9%. As of Aug. 27, an average 513 people in the state were hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 69 patients being treated in intensive care and 27 patients on ventilators, the latest data shows.

The omicron subvariant BA.5 accounted for about 72% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week of Aug. 13, followed by BA.4 (9.1%) and BA.1.12.1 (2.6%), according to the latest data. The DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to find out about new strains of the virus, the agency’s website reads.

Nearly 53% percent of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and nearly 61% have received at least one dose, state health data shows.

Free at-home COVID tests still available to order — for a limited time

There’s still time to order free, at-home coronavirus testing kits from the federal government before the program ends for good, McClatchy News reported.

U.S households have until Friday, Sept. 2, to order a third round of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, according to federal officials. Each order comes with a total of eight tests in two packages.

The government is suspending the free test program because the U.S. stockpile is running low, the Biden Administration said.

“Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests,” a message on the covid.gov website says.

Read the full story here.

Carnival cruises relaxes COVID rules. What to know if you’re sailing from SC

Carnival Cruise Line, the state’s only large cruise ship operator, is rolling back COVID-19 protocols for passengers next month, The State reported.

Beginning in September, the cruise line will no longer mandate coronavirus tests or vaccinations for passengers on most trips, according to the newspaper. The Carnival Sunshine ship sails from Charleston to various destinations in the Caribbean.

The change follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end its COVID-19 testing program for cruises last month.

“Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests, and these guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said in a statement.

For more on what travelers can expect going forward, read the full story here.

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