Vaccine Use in S.C. Leads to 'Dramatic Decline' in Cases, Deaths at Nursing Communities, DHEC Says

WLTX reports that about 43 percent of South Carolina's population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with about 35 percent considered fully vaccinated. Yet South Carolina has witnessed a decline in cases and deaths overall, which the state department of health attributes to vaccine use. "The best example I can think of is in nursing community residents where we have seen the most dramatic decline in cases and deaths because we achieved such high coverage among those vulnerable individuals," said State Epidemiologist Linda Bell. At the Carolina Gardens Senior Living community at the Kathwood assisted living community, hallways are becoming re-energized as indoor visits are allowed, while trips outside the community have also resumed. "We're kind of slowly getting back to regular," said Kathwood lead medical technician Lasonia Kenley-Cunningham. "We try to just make sure that the residents are safe because they are our first priority."