My hometown of Spartanburg County has reported hundreds of new cases of COVID-19 this past wee, bringing the total to over 3,000. Statewide, DHEC announced the total number of confirmed cases approaching 60,000 with over a thousand confirmed deaths.
Meanwhile, DHEC announced the state’s first confirmed cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) caused by COVID-19. MIS-C is a rare health condition which occurs in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus. Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, and feeling tired. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face, and severe abdominal pain.
“We continue to see more and more young people, especially those under 20, contracting and spreading COVID-19, and we know MIS-C is a threat to our youngest South Carolinians,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in a statement.
“MIS-C is a serious health complication linked to COVID-19 and is all the more reason why we must stop the spread of this virus. Anyone and everyone is susceptible to COVID-19 as well as additional health risks associated with it, which is why all of us must stop the virus by wearing a mask and stay six feet away from others. These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children.”