MEDICALEXAMINER NOW WHAT? 80,470 TM
HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS
MAY 21, 2021
AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006
AUGUSTARX.COM
The signs are everywhere that the pandemic’s back is broken; it is mortally wounded and its death is just a matter of time. One example: Braves games in Atlanta are open at 100 percent capacity and crowd shots show very few masks in evidence (note: catchers are still wearing masks, however). So let’s pretend the end really is in sight. It’s near. History will look back on May 2021 as COVID’s last days. If the pandemic was actually over as of this past Monday (May 17), this is what our CSRA totals would look like.
All across the fruited plain, the land of the free and the home of the brave has been abuzz with the first taste of what feels like COVID-free freedom in more than a year. It came with the long-awaited proclamation from the CDC last week that wearing a mask was not necessary for fully vaccinated people. You would think this news would have been greeted with universal elation, but instead in many quarters it was met with criticism and skepticism. Public health experts raised multiple questions: How could the CDC flip-flop so quickly from its previous (and very recent) stand that masks were necessary? What data has come to light since then? Is this move premature? Was it politically motivated? The private sector was as divided as the healthcare community. Many retail chains immediately dropped their mask requirements for customers and staff, but just as many announced they would continue to enforce mask policies. What’s a body to do? Let’s emphasize that the CDC’s relaxation of its recommendations applies to people who have been vaccinated. Taking the CDC at face value, that you’re safe when vaccinated, should be an added incentive to get that matter taken care of. Anything and everything local takes precedence over CDC guidelines. Also, the CDC has not banned mask wearing, nor has anyone else. No store or venue with relaxed mask rules would likely bar anyone from entering who is wearing a mask. Since there are no vaccine police, those who don’t want to wear masks don’t have to. Everyone who still prefers to wear a mask should do so. We want to be totally wrong about this, but the M.E.’s recommendation for anti-mask and pro-mask populations is: don’t throw away your masks just yet. +
COUNTY Burke Columbia Glascock Hancock Jefferson Jenkins Lincoln McDuffie Richmond Taliaferro Warren Washington Wilkes
Aiken Allendale Barnwell Edgefield McCormick
TOTAL CASES 2,586 16,929 265 914 1,948 853 817 2,506 24,786 123 536 2,053 1,083
TOTAL DEATHS CASE RATE 60 11,483 203 11,233 19 8,845 66 10,734 68 12,473 43 9,701 26 10,400 50 11,680 513 12,229 3 7,635 17 10,119 86 10,046 28 11,002
17,373 937 2,592 3,143 1,026
TOTALS 80,470
DEATH RATE 2.32 1.20 7.17 7.22 3.49 5.04 3.18 2.00 2.07 2.44 3.17 4.19 2.59
225 15 57 43 28
10,323 10,383 12,143 11,652 10,765
1.30 1.60 2.20 1.37 2.73
1,550
10,713
3.15
Note: The Case Rate and Death Rate show the number of total cases and deaths per 100,000 population, providing a means to equally compare counties of various sizes. The statewide death rate for Georgia is 1.84; for South Carolina it is 1.64. +
CAN WE THROW YOU A LINE? DOCTORS: If you need help with receivables, we’re a phone call away.
LET MCB HELP Spend your time on patients while we handle your billing and collections. We have decades of experience in MEDICAL BILLING and CREDENTIALING.
Call or visit our website today!
MERCHANTS CREDIT BUREAU 2803 Wrightsboro Road, Suite 8, Augusta, GA 30909
Serving you for more than 70 years
(706) 823-6230 www.mcbusa.com