DHEC shifts COVIID-19 testing strategy towards at-home rapid tests

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– There is a reported drop in demand for drive-through COVID-19 testing. Friday morning, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says they’re now shifting their testing strategy toward at-home rapid antigen tests, beginning March 1.

Officials say the speed and accuracy of these tests allows individuals to test anytime, without waiting for a testing center to open. This allows people to immediately isolate if they’re sick, eliminating possible spread in testing lines.

Because at-home testing is not reportable, DHEC says they will no longer report daily case counts as of March 15, but will continue to report COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis.

DHEC laid out the following timeline for the rollback in testing sites:

• March 1-14
  • Gradual closure of DHEC-managed testing sites in counties with five or more non-DHEC PCR test providers.
• March 15
  • Change in data reported to weekly hospitalizations and deaths.
• March 14-April 1
  • Gradual closure of DHEC-managed sites in counties with 2-4 non-DHEC PCR test providers.
• April 1
  • Beginning of closure of DHEC-operated PCR sites
    • Does not include counties where DHEC is the only PCR test provider.