National Guard aids South Carolina hospital amid virus surge

The National Guard is sending help to a South Carolina hospital system as the current COVID-19 surge overwhelms emergency departments.

About a dozen Guard members will work in two Tidelands Health emergency rooms, three temporary respiratory clinics set up to mitigate emergency volumes and one monoclonal antibody clinic, the coastal hospital system announced Friday.

Two of the system's hospitals in the Grand Strand have topped 100% capacity, with emergency departments serving as holding areas for patients when beds are not available.

Earlier this week, the emergency department at Tidelands Waccamaw held 22 admitted patients — nine of them requiring critical care — due to the lack of beds, according to the hospital.

"As we have throughout this pandemic, our team continues to rise to the challenge and serve our patients with care and compassion," said Ashley Capps, vice president of nursing and operations at Tidelands Health, in a statement. "But we are asking our community to help us help you. Please get vaccinated, and please wear a mask to protect your health."

The state is now averaging more than 5,300 cases per day, nearing the record high case numbers seen in January before the vaccine became readily available. On Friday, health officials reported 6,032 new COVID-19 cases and another 38 deaths.