Lexington County COVID Level Down, Midlands Monkeypox Case Reported

Posted 7/8/22

Masking is no longer recommended in all indoor public places in Lexington County. 

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Lexington County COVID Level Down, Midlands Monkeypox Case Reported

Posted

Masking is no longer recommended in all indoor public places in Lexington County. 

For the first time since June 17, the county’s COVID-19 Community Level is down to a medium. The tool is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to advise counties on best practices based on the latest local data.

For the past three weeks, the county’s grade has been high, triggering the recommendation from the CDC and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control that masks be worn in all indoor public places. With a medium level, the recommendation is to wear a mask on public transportation and if you have symptoms, a positive test or are exposed to someone with COVID.

No Midlands county has a high level this week, with the neighboring Richland County, which had also posted a high level each of the past three weeks, down to a medium. All other counties that border Lexington have a medium level — except Newberry, which is down to low.

All eight S.C. counties with a high level this week are in the PeeDee.

While Lexington County’s level is down to medium, the case rate is up sharply. In the seven days leading up to July 8, 329.71 new COVID cases per 100,000 people were reported in the county, up from 253.39 leading up to July 1 and 243.68 leading up to June 24. 

The other two metrics the CDC uses to calculate Community Levels were below the threshold for a high grade, with new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people clocking in at 8.6 (down from 11 leading up to July 1) and the percent of inpatient hospital beds in use by COVID patients coming in at 2.2% (up slightly from 2% last week).

DHEC Announces First Confirmed S.C. Cases of Monkeypox

In other health news, DHEC announced July 8 the state’s first confirmed monkeypox cases, one in the Midlands and one in the Lowcountry.

To date, the CDC has reported 700 cases nationwide in what it is terming a U.S. outbreak of the virus. S.C. neighbors North Carolina (3) and Georgia (19) have already reported cases.

DHEC has not specified where in the Midlands a monkeypox case was confirmed.

“Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness,” the department says in a release. “The typical illness begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes that progresses to a rash on the face and body, but we are learning that many cases in the current outbreak do not have the typical onset and the rash may only appear on part of the body. Most infections last two to four weeks. Monkeypox is a reportable condition in South Carolina as a novel infectious agent. Healthcare providers are asked to notify DHEC of any patient that they suspect may have monkeypox to receive guidance about the recommended evaluation.

“Monkeypox is not easily transmitted from person to person. It can be spread through prolonged face-to-face contact, skin-to-skin contact including sexual contact, and through contaminated materials (clothing or linens of an infected person).”

DHEC says that the infected individuals will be monitored until they’re no longer infectious, being isolated if necessary, to prevent further spread of the virus.

“We understand residents have concerns about how this virus might impact our state,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell is quoted. “We expected infections to eventually occur in South Carolina as part of the larger international outbreak, which is why DHEC has been planning a response for weeks. That said, monkeypox doesn’t spread easily and we believe the risk to the general population remains low at this time.”

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