The state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is said it continues working on an “internal systems issue” that causes their reporting dashboard to underreport daily case totals, but it still counted 4,673 new cases of COVID-19 and 42 statewide deaths caused by the virus on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s incomplete data brings the state’s total to 332,990 cases of COVID-19. Out of the 17,245 new individual tests reported on Wednesday, 27.1% were positive.
DHEC plans to hire at least 150 new staff members to help with vaccine rollout, the agency said in a press release Wednesday, the same day the state expanded COVID-19 vaccine availability to those aged 70 and older.
Public health officials are calling on nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and other qualified individuals to fill the roles.
“This is a crucial time for our state and, like many public health agencies across the nation, we’re seeking qualified individuals to serve alongside our state’s public health officials in South Carolina’s hour of need,” said DHEC senior deputy for public health Nick Davidson in a press release. “We’re calling on all those who are qualified, willing and able to apply. Your state urgently needs you.”
DHEC reports that 2,621 staff members have worked a total of 1,201,509 hours since the onset of the pandemic.
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