12/14 NEWSBREAK: S.C. has 'very high' flu activity, CDC says

South Carolina recorded its first pediatric flu-related death of the season as children’s hospitals across the state are filling up. South Carolina and Louisiana are the only states in the country listed as having “very high” flu activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The first death of a child was in the Upstate, but the state did not provide more detail. It was the state’s fifth flu death last week, which raises the total this season to 11 overall, according to news outlets. The CDC recorded 12 child deaths overall in the nation as of Dec. 2, along with 215 hospitalizations by the end of the week ending Dec. 9, a 40% jump from the previous week.

“We’ve seen widespread flu activity across the state over the past several weeks, with an increase in both flu cases and hospitalizations,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell. “It’s critical that South Carolinians act now to get their flu shots as well as updated vaccines for respiratory illnesses, including COVID and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.”

The same preventive methods that protect against Covid-19 also protect against the flu virus: vaccination, masks, frequent handwashing and staying home or away from others while sick.

The flu vaccine is available from DHEC health departments, doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, schools and workplaces. For those who have not received recommended vaccines for respiratory illnesses, getting multiple vaccines at the same time is safe and effective.

In other news:

CP NEWS: Ashley Landing redevelopment proposal moves forward. The city of Charleston’s Design Review Board approved a proposal for the redevelopment of the Ashley Landing shopping center with a new Publix grocery store located between Old Towne Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley.

Tedder says he’ll fight gun violence after White House visit. S.C. State Sen. Deon Tedder, D-Charleston, outlined the key ways he will address gun safety measures in the upcoming legislative session after visiting the White House State Legislative Convening on Gun Violence Prevention.

Nathaniel Russell House planned for sale as group shifts focus. The Historic Charleston Foundation announced plans this week to sell the Nathaniel Russell House museum, marking a shift in the organization’s overall strategy which caused intense backlash from the community.

Union Pier plan developers seeking applicants for new advisory council. The team behind new plans to redevelop Union Pier has announced another community group to garner feedback on what should and should not be built on the waterfront property.

Mount Pleasant takes first steps in adding hate crime ordinance. The Mount Pleasant town council heard the first reading of two ordinances that would add the possibility of fines up to $500 and up to 30 extra days in jail for anyone who commits a crime in the town motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disabilities or national origin.

College of Charleston unveils ‘framework for the future’. The plan is a roadmap to guide the campus toward its goals moving forward, including those set forth in the 10-year strategic plan that identified three main areas of focus: student success, academic distinction and employee success.

Charleston school board plans to sustain programs funded by pandemic relief dollars. Charleston County School District is working to outline what to do with pandemic relief dollars by identifying what positions and programs the district can afford to keep.

Lawmakers, Charleston Co. school officials meet to discuss student standards. Officials from the Charleston County School District and Charleston legislative delegation met to discuss ways to support positive student outcomes such as access to mental health resources, increasing teacher pay, retention, recruitment efforts and high school athletics.