covid-19
DHEC urging parents to vaccinate their children 12 and older ahead of summer break
May 28, 2021 – With Memorial Day just a few days away and summer break on the horizon, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is encouraging parents to get their children 12 and older vaccinated as soon as possible to protect against COVID-19. Getting children vaccinated is important because they can…
Read MorePrisma Health reduces hours, set to close The Ridge vaccine site
The CDC and the vaccine advisory committee has announced that children 12 and over can now receive the Pfizer vaccine, but Prisma Health began reducing hours at the Laurens site this week and it will close later this month. Prisma Health administers the Pfizer brand vaccine. Turnout has been lower at The Ridge in recent…
Read MoreThe new debate – Allergies or COVID?
April 15, 2021 Laurens, S.C. – Yellow pollen clouds aren’t quite as thick as they were a week or so ago but allergy season is still in full swing, and the “Is it COVID or is it allergies?” question is a common thread in conversations in workplaces and in doctors’ offices. Dr. Nate Benitez with…
Read MoreVaccine Dashboard’s early demographics not a surprise in first phase, per DHEC
In a South Carolina DHEC Vaccine Dashboard which launched on Monday, the demographics are showing a much higher rate of vaccines among women than men, and higher numbers of whites than minorities, but State Epidemiologist Linda Bell explained that it’s due to the fact that we’re still in the Phase 1a portion of the vaccination…
Read MoreWho Am I? – ‘Regular people’ saving lives through mask challenge
Clinton, S.C. – Clinton native William Lucas (Bill) Walker created “The Who Am I? Mask Challenge” last summer because he wanted to do something to make a positive difference and help bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. He never dreamed that within six months the virus would take his mother’s life. Walker, an Emmy…
Read MorePrisma gains staffing help through collaboration with state agencies, S.C. National Guard
Jan. 13, 2021 Clinton, S.C. – Like other hospitals across the Upstate of South Carolina, Prisma Health Laurens County is feeling the squeeze caused by the high numbers of COVID-19 patients, and four South Carolina National Guard medics have already been assisting at the local hospital. “Prisma Health is experiencing the effects of extreme…
Read MoreSome District 55 elementary students to begin full return mid-October
From the Wednesday, Sept. 30 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser Laurens, SC – With a five to two vote, Laurens District 55 Board of Trustees on Monday night approved Superintendent Dr. Ameca Thomas’ recommendations to begin gradually bringing elementary age children back to school five days a week, and the first group will begin…
Read MoreSome Dist. 55 elementary grades return to face-to-face Oct. 12
The complete story is in the Wednesday, Sept. 30 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser, and online posted Friday, Oct. 2. Laurens-SC – With a five to two vote, Laurens District 55 Board of Trustees on Monday night approved Superintendent Dr. Ameca Thomas’ recommendations to gradually begin bringing elementary age children back to school five days…
Read MoreDistrict 55 changes course after DHEC report, District 56 remains in-person
Laurens County, South Carolina – Just hours ahead of what was going to be the first week of hybrid eLearning and classroom learning in Laurens School District 55, the district has changed course and will revert to a total eLearning situation, at least for now. The district made the announcement and contacted parents and teachers…
Read MoreClinton opts to cancel third annual Scots and Brats
Citing concerns about the continuing cases of COVID-19, and with no end in sight for CDC and DHEC guidelines to help prevent the virus, Clinton City Council on Monday night learned that city staff had decided to cancel the upcoming fall festival, Scots and Brats. “We have been following federal and state guidelines and city staff have…
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