State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, encouraging everyone to roll up their sleeves when the vaccine becomes available to them.
State Department of Health and Environmental Control said again Tuesday that the agency was still sorting out an “internal systems issue” that causes their reporting dashboard to underreport daily case totals. Still, the state was able to report 1,361 cases of COVID-19 and 29 deaths caused by the coronavirus across the state.
Tuesday’s incomplete data brings the state’s total to 328,028 cases of COVID-19. Out of 4,496 tests counted on Tuesday, 30.3% were positive.
The state will expand COVID-19 vaccine availability on Wednesday, opening appointments to those aged 70 and older. A statewide vaccination availability map will be made available tomorrow as well.
In Charleston, MUSC has already started taking vaccination reservations.
“We the have the opportunity to stop the ongoing devastation that COVID-19 has wreaked on our community,” Bell said Tuesday. “I have the utmost confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.”
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