- Richland Library
- Monday, March 08
Updated 10:45 a.m. on Monday, March 8th
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) currently impacting the U.S., we've compiled a list of resources and information to help you and your family stay informed.
🌎 General Information:
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus strain first reported in late 2019 in the Wuhan, China area. Since then, the virus has been reported in a number of countries around the globe, including the United States. Early reports indicated cases were connected with travelers from China, but more recent reports indicate cases with no known connection to China.
U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The CDC has set up a landing page with a variety of information on the Coronavirus including a helpful section on What You Should Know, which outlines:
And a map which highlights states and countries with reported cases of COVID-19.
World Health Organization (WHO)
On this website you can find information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Please visit this page for daily updates.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
If you have questions about COVID-19, the DHEC Care Line is open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on weekdays. Call 1-855-472-3432.
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📺 Media Literacy:
The Coronavirus Misinformation Tracking Center
As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, so does disinformation and misinformation. Follow the spread of this dangerous information with NewsGuard’s new Coronavirus Misinformation Tracking Center.
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😷 Health & Safety Resources:
Per SC DHEC, South Carolinians can take the following steps to help stay healthy:
- practicing social distancing (for example, avoiding crowded gatherings and staying at least six feet from others).
- wearing a cloth mask in public,
- washing your hands,
- covering your cough,
- staying home when you’re sick, and
- cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily.
**DHEC continues to encourage people who are unvaccinated to get the flu vaccine. This protects individuals and the public and reduces confusion of more common respiratory illnesses with possible COVID-19 illnesses.
When wearing a mask, South Carolinians should:
- Make sure you can breathe through it
- Wear it whenever going out in public
- Make sure it covers your nose and mouth
- Wash your hands before taking it on or off
- Wash after using
You should not:
- Use on children under age 2
- Touch the front of the mask
- Use surgical masks needed by healthcare workers
What to Do if You Are Sick:
Call ahead to a healthcare professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread. Tell your healthcare professional about your recent travel or contact. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Screening and Testing Sites:
Expansive testing helps us to quickly identify hot spots, catch outbreaks before they spread, and indicate where resources are most needed. Learn more about the South Carolina Statewide Testing Plan for COVID-19 here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
South Carolina is currently in Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout.
According to DHEC Phase 1B includes:
- Anyone aged 55 and up
- People with increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
- People aged 16-54 with one or more high-risk medical conditions:
- People who have a developmental or other severe high-risk disability that makes developing severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection more likely
- Frontline workers with increased occupational risk
- Frontline workers with increased occupational risk are people who:
- Must be in-person at their place of work, and
- Perform a job that puts them at increased risk of exposure due to their frequent, close (less than6 feet) and ongoing (more than 15 minutes) contact with others in the work environment
- Some examples of people who may be frontline workers based on risk may include school staff and daycare workers, criminal justice staff, government employees, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, and law enforcement officers.
- Frontline workers with increased occupational risk are people who:
- Individuals at increased risk in settings where people are living and working in close contact
- Residents and workers in group home settings for the mentally or physically disabled or those with behavioral or substance abuse conditions
- Workers and residents in homeless shelters
- Workers and residents in community training homes
- State and local correctional facility staff with direct inmate contact
- Correctional and immigration detention facility inmates
- Migrant farmworkers living in shared housing or reliant on shared transportation
- All workers in healthcare and community health settings who have routine, direct patient contact and were not vaccinated in Phase 1a
View DHEC's full vaccination plan here
Read more about vaccines in South Carolina here.
Local Emergency Services Guide:
Compiled by Richland Library’s Social Workers, this guide contains contact information, locations and types of medical services offered for those seeking free or low-cost medical assistance.
MUSC Online Screenings:
MUSC Health is offering free virtual care consultations and screenings to anyone experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms located in South Carolina with the promo code COVID19, for both new and existing patients. If you have immediate health concerns and wish to speak to a medical professional, MUSC recommends a virtual care visit to speak to a provider online. You can also call 843-792-7000 for more information. MUSC Health Virtual Care can be accessed by phone, online, or through chats.
EPA-registered Disinfectants:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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✈️ Travel Advisories and Info:
U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
DHEC and the CDC currently recommend avoiding all nonessential travel to China and South Korea, as well as following the CDC’s recommendations regarding travel to other countries affected by COVID-19.
World Health Organization:
Posts regular updates on recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak.
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🏫 School Information:
Local school districts are monitoring the Coronavirus and its potential impact on the Midlands. Use the links below to check their official websites and social media profiles for the latest on school impacts or closings.
Richland County School District One
Website: richlandone.org/richlandone
Facebook: facebook.com/RichlandOne/
Twitter: twitter.com/RichlandOne
Richland School District Two
Website: richland2.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/RichlandTwo/
Twitter: twitter.com/RichlandTwo
Lexington-Richland School District 5
Website: lexrich5.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/LexRich5Schools/
Twitter: twitter.com/LexRich5Schools
