SC numbers, four free tests to each household

Sheridan County has added another 115 lab confirmed cases of COVID in the last 24 hours to the now 5,259 confirmed cases since the pandemic began. 

There are now 345 active cases of the virus in the Sheridan County community, according to COVID-19 Public Information Specialist Jennifer Graves. 

Since Jan. 6, testing has seen a sharp increase at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. The hospital now tests a daily average of 110 residents a day. Currently 11 Sheridan County residents are hospitalized in SMH battling the virus. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every home in the U.S. is eligible to receive four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. These tests are completely free. The CDC states that the orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

To place an order click here. 

According to the CDC, even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering indoors with others can give you information about the risk of spreading COVID-19. This is especially important before gathering with unvaccinated children, older individuals, those who are immunocompromised, or individuals at risk of severe disease.

A negative test result indicates that you may not be infected and may be at low risk of spreading disease to others, though it does not rule out an infection. 

The CDC states that performing serial tests, meaning two or more tests over several days with at least 24 hours between tests—with one test as close as possible to the event you will attend, improves the reliability of testing and reduces your risk of transmitting disease to others even further. Some self-tests require this type of repeat testing in the manufacturer’s instructions.

To date, the virus has claimed the lives of 63 Sheridan County residents. 

The CDC lists Sheridan County’s level of community transmission as HIGH. 

More COVID-19 information is available at www.sheridancounty.com/covid-19/.