ABLE SC says, Even in 2024, Protect Yourself!

COVID and Flu is surging in SC ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Friend, It seems like everyone was sick around the holidays or got sick shortly after. People you know, or maybe you got sick because South Carolina is currently dealing with a big surge in both COVID-19 and flu cases. The US is experiencing its largest COVID-19 surge since the Omicron variant in the late fall of 2021. Nearly 2 million daily infections are being estimated. The current surge in sickness is driven by the JN.1 variant. The JN.1 variant is a new version of the same COVID virus that’s been infecting people, particularly disabled people, since late 2019. Variants in the COVID-19 virus continue to occur because the virus continues to spread at high rates among people.  That’s right, the COVID-19 virus is still out there, making people sick, and has been every day, even though many of the government-funded programs to prevent and slow infection have stopped. While hospitalization rates are lower than last year, experts say there will be a rise in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks. As people with disabilities, we know the reality is that our community members are likely to be the ones going to the hospital and dying. We want you to be protected. Read our full statement on the current surge by clicking the button below. - All of us at Able South Carolina Read our Full Statement  It is more important than ever to practice ways to protect yourself: Get your COVID-19 and flu vaccines Wear a respirator mask like a KN95 or N95 in public places, especially indoors and outdoors in crowded areas Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands Stay home if you feel sick Get tested for COVID-19 and the flu if you have symptoms Avoid other people who may be sick or have symptoms Most importantly, Tell your friends and family to do the same. Protecting yourself helps, but protecting each other is even better.   We can help you get your vaccine and provide protective masks and COVID-19 testing supplies. Visit our Able SC offices in Greenville or Columbia for supplies or call 1-800-787-6460   Let’s do this for our disabled community. Get vaccinated. Stay safe. Be well. Able South Carolina 720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210 803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org Follow Us Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences