In response to a surge in COVID-19 positive cases, and more COVID-19 hospitalizations at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the City of Beaufort is urging residents who have not yet been vaccinated to do so.The COVID vaccination is readily available throughout the Beaufort area.
The City also recommends that both customers and employees of retail locations and other businesses open to the public wear masks when inside a building. The City will require any visitors to City facilities, including City Hall, to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines beginning Monday, Aug. 2.
Recently, the COVID-19 Delta variant, which is more contagious than the original virus, has spread rapidly throughout the United States, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates.
“We are concerned about this new community spread of Covid-19, and the infection rate of the Delta variant,” said Mayor Stephen Murray. “We want our people to stay safe, and the best way to do that is to get vaccinated. We also want to support Beaufort Memorial Hospital and the hard-working medical staff there. We don’t want our hospital to be overburdened by COVID-19 patients.”
The hospital reports that it has seen a significant surge in COVID-19 patients lately, including more in ICU and several on ventilators.
It’s easy to get the COVID vaccination in Beaufort.
The DHEC Vaccination Dashboard shows that 2.1 million people in South Carolina have received at least one vaccine, and 1.9 million are totally vaccinated, which amounts to 44.4% of the age 12+ population. In Beaufort County, about 49% of the total age 12+ population has been vaccinated.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital requires masks at all of its facilities to better protect its patients and staff.
Pfizer vaccines are available for all those 12 years of age and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for all those 18 years of age and older.
Studies have shown that these vaccines protect against severe cases of Covid-19, and lessen the chances of hospitalization and death.
South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control vaccine guidance can be found here.
