CDC: Vaccinated Can Still Spread Delta Varient

July 30 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released data showing that vaccinated people are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection with the Delta variant and that they can spread the disease nearly as easily as unvaccinated people. 

Nearly 75 Percent of COVID-19 cases connected with large gatherings on Cape Cod in Massachusetts occurred in people fully vaccinated against the virus, according to data published Friday by the CDC.

The new data comes after the agency issued guidance on Tuesday recommending that everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high.

An internal memo circulated at the CDC this week warned that the Delta variant of the coronavirus is significantly more transmissable than previously known and is as contagious as chickenpox.

CDC urges vaccinated people in high-COVID-19 areas to wear masks indoors

"Delta infection resulted in similarly high [COVID-19] viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated people," CDC director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said Friday in a statement.

"High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people with Delta can transmit the virus," Walensky said. 

In samples tested for a COVID-19 variant, 90 percent were identified as the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which is thought to be more contagious and less susceptible to vaccines, the agency said.

Just under 80 percent of those infected experienced symptoms of the virus and five of the 462 cases reported as part of the outbreak required hospital treatment, the CDC said.

These findings are "concerning and [were] a pivotal discovery leading to CDC's updated mask recommendation," Walensky said.

"The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones," she said.

However, in an internal memo, first reported by the New York Times and Washington Post on Thursday and confirmed Friday by UPI with a CDC spokeswoman, researchers with the agency suggest that even these new recommendations may not go far enough.

The memo describes "universal masking" as "essential" in stemming the spread of the Delta variant.

S.C. Schools Can Require Masks on Buses, Visitors

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

South Carolina public schools still have some options reguarding the requiring of masks in some situations as part of the upcoming school year. 

These options, which are not covered by the state's restrictions, and will be left up to individual school districts:

1. While the state will not be enforcing a face mask requirement on school buses, individual school districts may choose to do so. 

2. School districts may require masks of all visitors to schools.

3. Face coverings may be required by students, staff, and visitors in healthcare areas of school facilities. Locations designated for healthcare, testing, or for awaiting pickup due to illness are considered healthcare facilities. Examples include health rooms and athletic trainer offices.  As such, infection control policies and practices are held to healthcare facility standards and expectations and may differ from policies of non-healthcare school facilities. Individuals being assessed, tested, or dismissed from attendance due to respiratory symptoms should be required to wear a face covering while in these designated healthcare areas and also when transiting to/from these areas.

So far none of the school districts in Anderson County have issued any response to such restrictions. Story developing...

County Jobless Rate Bump a Common Blip in June

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County's unemployment rate jumped to 4.3 percent in June, up from 3.4 percent in May. The increase reflects a statwide trend, with every other county in South Carolina posting similar increases for June.

Of the 92,346 member workforce in the county, 85,413 were employed while 3,933 remain jobless.

The statewide jobless rate, which is calculated differently and seasonally adjusted dropped to 4.5 percent in June, down from 4.6 percent in May.

"June always brings a huge increase in the labor force and it's difficult for the job market to absorb all these potential workers, so we always see a big jump in the rate this month," said Steve Newton, director of governmental affairs for Anderson County. 

Nationally, the unemployment rate edged up to 5.9 percent from May’s rate of 5.8 percent.

S.C. Sales Tax Holidays Begin Aug. 6

Observer Reports

South Carolina's annual Sales Tax Holidays – the state’s popular three-day sales and use tax break on traditional back-to-school purchases - begins Aug 6. 

The annual event, which was implemented in 2000, will begins at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 6 and tax-exempt purchases can be made through Aug. 8 at midnight. While providing taxpayers with an exemption on the 6 percent statewide sales tax as well as any applicable local taxes, the tax-free weekend also benefits in-state businesses by urging taxpayers to do their back-to-school shopping in South Carolina.
 
During this time, taxes will not be imposed on clothing, shoes, school supplies, book bags, computers, printers, bedspreads and linens, and more. Nonexempt items during the weekend include the sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture, or items placed on layaway. Portable devices whose function is primarily used for telephone calls, listening or downloading music, watching videos, or reading books, are not exempt during the tax-free weekend. However, with the growing popularity of computer tablets, portable devices that have computing functions and allow users to access multiple software applications are considered computers and are therefore tax-exempt, provided they do not allow users to make telephone calls. More information on the exemption of computer tablets can be found at www.sctax.org.
 
The popularity of the tax-free weekend has traditionally been the third busiest shopping period of the year, surpassed only by the weekends after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, as South Carolina shoppers save approximately $3 million during the tax-free weekend.

Click here for a list of exempt items in South Carolina or visit the tax-free weekend website.

S.C. Health Officials Encourage Masks in Schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina health officials are still recommending students and teachers wear masks indoors to curb COVID-19's spread in the upcoming school year, though state lawmakers have already banned school districts from requiring the face coverings.

The mask recommendation is part of new coronavirus guidance for schools released by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday. Public health officials are also encouraging schools to set up vaccination clinics and maintain at least 3 feet (1 meter) of distance between students.

The new guidance reflects current COVID-19 trends, the agency said. The delta variant has spurred a rapid rise in cases this summer, with a 92.6% jump in cases over the past week. And vaccination rates have plateaued, with just over 44% of eligible residents fully immunized, according to data updated Tuesday by state health officials.

Education officials said earlier this week thatthe state can’t follow new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending indoor mask use in schools regardless of vaccination status. State legislation went into effect this month that bars school districts in South Carolina from using appropriated funds “to require that its students and/or employees wear a face mask.”

DHEC Public Health Director Dr. Brannon Traxler on Thursday acknowledged that it was ultimately up to parents to decide whether to listen to the experts.

“Parents need to make the decision that they are the most comfortable with for their children,” Traxler said.

Gov. Henry McMaster, who has backed the ban on mask mandates and repeatedly refused to impose a statewide mask rule, has said that some experts should be listening to parents instead.

"The parents know their children, they know what's good for them, they know the school system,” McMaster said Wednesday. “And a lot of our experts are not listening to parents.”

The state health agency says masks must still be worn on school buses, however, citing an order issued in January by the CDC requiring masks on public transportation.

Education Superintendent Molly Spearman urged schools to take the agency's advice into consideration.

Mayor: Downtown Hotel Set for End of August Opening

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The new downtown hotel and parking garage are slated to be completed by the end of August, according to Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts.

Expansion of recreational facilities and trails, economic development and a new welcome to downtown plaza on the north end of downtown are just some of what was discussed in this Summer 2021 update with the Anderson Observer.

S.C.'s Top Superintendent Ready for 2021-22 School Year

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

South Carolina's Superintendent of the Year winner for 2021, Kathy Hipp, says the award provides excellent recognition for small districts across the state.

Hipp, who serves as superintendent for Anderson School Dist. 3, has deep roots in the county's most expansive district, and talked about the upcoming school year in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

Booth Ready to Lead Voter Registration Office

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Laura Booth was recently chosen to replace Anderson County Voter and Registration Executive Director Katy Smith, and she is ready to hit the ground running.

Booth, who has served in leadership in the office for almost 15 years, who praised Smith's vision and leadership, plans to expand community outreach and social media information. She talks about this and more in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

DHEC Supports Masks Indoors, Even for Vaccinated

Schools Caught in the Middle Between Governor, DHEC Observer Reports The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is supporting the Centers for Disease Control recommendation concerning the wearing of masks in public areas indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This includes masking for teachers, students, parents and visitors in K-12 schools due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the increasing threat of the Delta variant. Anderson County posted 32 new cases of the virus on Monday, 22 confirmed and 10 suspected cases. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster posted a pair of tweets in response to the latest DHEC recommendation. According to the CDC, a rise in breakthrough cases where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for COVID-19 is being fueled due to the rise of the Delta variant. The updated CDC recommendations include: In areas with substantial and high transmission, CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of Delta and protect others. CDC recommends that community leaders encourage vaccination and masking to prevent further outbreaks in areas of substantial and high transmission. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.  In accordance with the previous CDC order, students are required to wear masks on school buses. DHEC's latest recommendations are for South Carolina to follow same protocols, but lacks the authority to mandate such regulations since state law currently prohibits the requirements of mask mandates in schools or on buses.   The move has left local school districts in a difficult position and without many good options. If a school district excercized local autonomy and required masks on buses, in the classroom or both, it would jeopardize state funding due to McMaster's edict. Vaccinations remain a priorty among health leaders in the state, which ranks 40th nationally in vaccinations. Anderson County has one of the lowest rates of citizens receiving both vaccinations in the state. In the last 60 days more than 93 percent of the verified COVID-19 cases and deaths have been among unvaccinated individuals. During that same period close to 90 percent of hospitializations were among those not vaccinated. Free vaccinations are stil available statewide. Find a location here.

Meals on Wheels Needs Drivers

Observer Reports

Meals on Wheels-Anderson needs drivers immediately to help deliver hot, nutritious meals to our elderly neighbors. 

As things are returning to normal after the pandemic, and teachers, parents and other individuals who had more free time to give during the summer months are returning to the school routines, the organization is in need of food delivery drivers. 

For 45 years, Meals on Wheels-Anderson has served individuals across the county and drivers are needed in all areas. 

Meals are prepared and packaged at the Meals on Wheels center at 105 S. Fant Street, and volunteer drivers pick up the meals from either the center or a specified location closer to the delivery area. The drivers are given a route to follow which guides them to each home in a certain area. Delivery of meals usually takes one-two hours. The program is currently serving about 475 citizens each week.

Volunteer drivers not only provide one-third of the daily nutrition required for the program’s recipients, but they are also a source of human contact and compassion that many of them may not otherwise receive each day.

Please consider helping the hungry senior citizens of Anderson County. To volunteer call 864-225-6800 or email hannah@acmow.org

Manufacturer to Bring 120 Jobs to Anderson

Observer Reports

Pregis, a leading global manufacturer of protective packaging is bringing 120 jobs and an $80 million investment to Anderson County.  

“On behalf of Anderson County, I would like to welcome Pregis to the area," said Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. "I am pleased that Pregis has invested $80 million and will be manufacturing advanced protective packaging in Anderson County, significantly enhancing the diversity of the county’s technical offering. I am very excited this will add an additional 120 jobs in Anderson County.”

Located at 200 Masters Boulevard in Anderson, the company’s new 168,000-square-foot facility will produce engineered films for use in performance-oriented packaging solutions for food, consumer packaged goods and medical device applications. The plant will also include a film laboratory to develop and test materials.

With more than 25 facilities in North America, Pregis serves a wide variety of consumer and industrial market segments including food, pharmaceutical, healthcare, e-commerce, automotive, construction and more.

The new facility is expected to be operational by September 2021. Job postings at Pregis team at careers webpage.

New Superintendents, New Voter Director, County, City Updates, More

City Council Oks Annexation of 323 Acres for New Development

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council unanimously approved the annexation of 323 acres for a planned subdivision off Williamston Road near the intersection of U.S. 29 Bypass.

The new subdivision will include 620 lots, between 5,000 square feet - and 8,027 square feet. Three-five bedroom homes are proposed, with driveways and garages to allow at least two off-street parking places. Two trees per lot will be required, with one providing street view. The proposed subdivision will include a clubhouse, pool and athletic courts.

Almost 168 acres of the tract will not to be developed, with 157 acres mostly in flood plain and 11 acres of common area included. 

Construction after annexation will include buildings, roads, related structures, material storage areas, transition grades, ponds, stormwater/other utility improvements, or other areas specifically authorized by the land disturbance permit.

Council approved the proposal amending the agreement to include landscaping along U.S. 29 and Plantation Road.

The maps below outline the proposal.

 City council on Monday night also honored Larry Morris upon his retirement as a leader in the city's public works department for more than 30 years.