Counties in Georgia and South Carolina are among those with substantial or high transmission rates.
Richmond County is listed as substantial; Columbia and Aiken Counties are both on the high transmission list. Cases are increasing dramatically in the CSRA.
Augusta University Health reported 25 COVID-19 inpatients as of July 28. Beginning July 28, AU Health resumed a modified family presence that allows only one support person or caregiver for adult and pediatric patients. Children under age 18 may not enter the hospital unless they are a patient. This is in addition to resuming the mask requirement for anyone entering the hospital or AU Health practice locations. That took effect July 23.
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“The mass vaccination clinic is scheduled to temporarily close at the end of August,” said AU Health Spokeswoman Lisa Kaylor. “People are encouraged to see their primary care providers, DPH or go to a local retail pharmacy. There are plenty of vaccines available throughout the CSRA, but the volume is not currently there to continue a mass vaccination center.”
At Doctors Hospital, spokesman Kaden Jacobs said they have 15 COVID-19 patients hospitalized.
He said, “We continually review safety measures and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure we protect our patients, staff and community.”
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Hospitalizations are also climbing at University Hospital, from 17 on July 25 to 36 on July 29.
Spokesman Rebecca Sylvester said, “We are caring for them on a negative air pressure unit in the main hospital that we used previously. We have not reopened University Hospital Summerville as a COVID-19 location at the present time.”
She added, “We never loosened our restrictions on mandatory masking for everyone in the hospital. Visitor hours are still restricted to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and no more than three people a day per patient. No visitors for COVID-19 patients. There are no plans right now to alter that.”
High transmission is defined as 100 new cases per 100,00 residents over the previous week or a positivity rate of 10% and higher. The definition of substantial transmission is 50-100 new cases per 100,000 or a positivity rate between 8% and 10%.
In Richmond County, an average of 56 cases have been reported per day for the last seven days, according to the New York Times coronavirus tracker. That represents a 333% increase in cases over the numbers two weeks ago.
Columbia County has reported an average of 52 cases per day over the same period, which represents a 526% increase, according the the coronavirus tracker.
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The CDC recommendation has resulted in a new mask policy at Fort Gordon.
Brig. Gen. Paul T. Stanton, commanding general of the Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, said all service members, federal employees, contractors and visitors must wear a mask when inside any facility on post, regardless of their vaccination status.
The order also said anyone not fully-vaccinated will continue to follow Department of Defense guidance, including wearing a mask outdoors and in shared spaces within six feet of others.
New CDC recommendations announced July 27 call for fully vaccinated people to wear masks in public, indoor settings in places experiencing a high rate of COVID-19 transmissions.
The new recommendations are largely due to the rise of Delta variant case numbers.
The CDC new mask recommendations are particularly for those who are immuno-suppressed or live with someone who is.
AU will sponsor two vaccination clinics at the Washington Square location. The first will be August 5 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a second will be August 5, 12 and 19 also from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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University Hospital has scheduled two vaccination clinics, one on August 4, the other on August 12. Both will be in the cafeteria dining rooms at the hospital at 1350 Walton Way. The clinics will use the Moderna vaccine so everyone aged 18 and older can sign up here for the August 4 clinic and here for August 12.
State and local governments are watching the climbing numbers and monitoring CDC recommendations.
Posting on Twitter, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said the state will not lock down or impose statewide mask mandates.
Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis said in an email, “As COVID-19 cases increase, I continue to monitor the data and communicate with our local and state health experts to determine if the need to return to masks exists. While we know masks help slow the spread of the virus, I want to encourage anyone who has not received the vaccine to consider doing so. I also urge individuals who have not been vaccinated to wear masks when indoors and in crowded places.“
Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson said the spike in cases is real, but most of the infected are unvaccinated people.
“For us, I think we need to focus on the vaccinations and make vaccinations possible. I don’t see Columbia County instituting any very strict COVID-19 regulations any time soon,” he added. “That said, if there is a true public emergency and there are numbers that really start changing, we’ll take a look at our position.”
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During the weekly South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control media briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist said, “We’re following the CDC recommendations and recommending all South Carolinians, even those who are fully-vaccinated, wear their masks when indoors and in public settings in areas with high or substantial transmissions.”
She said 41 of the Palmetto State’s 46 counties are at those transmission levels.
Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian said that county isn’t considering any restrictions at the moment.
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“But we are keeping an eye on things,” he added.
Many major retailers, including Walmart, Walgreen’s and Kroger are still providing vaccinations either by walk up or scheduled in advance.
Search for a vaccination clinic at https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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