Published: Jan. 25, 2024 at 4:45 PM EST|Updated: Jan. 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says while flulike illness-related doctor visits have dropped in the past week, hospitals are reporting more patients.
Dr. Martha Buchanan, DHEC’s lead medical consultant, said Thursday the state has not seen a significant increase in COVID hospitalizations, adding that the increased bed occupancy at hospitals could be the result of flu cases or other illnesses.
But she said the increase in hospitalizations is an important reminder to not put off a visit to your doctor or clinic if you’re feeling ill.
“Consider seeking care sooner rather than waiting until you’re so sick, you have to go to the hospital or go to the ER,” she said. “If you get sick and you’re, you just feel like you need to be seen, go ahead and get seen by your primary care doctor or to walk-in clinic.”
She also reiterated that getting vaccinated against COVID and the flu can reduce how sick you get if you contract either one as well as decrease the chance that hospitalization would be necessary.
“Vaccinations can reduce our risk. If we seek care sooner, we might not end up having to be in the hospital, not be able to get treated and stay at home,” she said.
She also stressed the need for basic preventive measures like washing hands often, covering coughs and staying home if you feel sick.
State adopts new definition of ‘outbreak’ for certain facilities
Buchanan said the state has adjusted its definition of what constitutes an outbreak at long-term care facilities based on new federal guidance. The change does not affect case numbers but rather the number of cases needed to be classified as an outbreak.
“So here’s what changed based on federal guidance: The definition of an outbreak in long-term care is two or more cases of COVID-19 among residents for one or more cases of residents plus two or more cases of staff,” she said.
The previous definition was one case in residents and three or more in staff and residents, she said.
The change makes it easier for the long-term care facility’s reporting but doesn’t change anything DHEC does to support them.
With the new definition in place, data showed a drop from 53 outbreaks last week to 26 this week.
“But that 26 could represent even more people, so I want to caution you against comparing the data from previous weeks to weeks going forward because you really just can’t do that; you’re comparing oranges to apples and that doesn’t work very well,” Buchanan said.
She said the change doesn’t mean the number of COVID cases hasn’t dropped, but that the state is making the change to stay in line with new national outbreak classifications.
Click here to view the latest state surveillance reports on flu activity.
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