Thursday | February 25, 2021

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources

At-home COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are available for free at most DHEC public health departments. DHEC’s testing locator is updated in real time to reflect which locations have them in stock.

Vaccine Distribution

All South Carolinians are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

SCDHEC provides an interactive map of vaccine provider locations. You can also call 1-866-365-8110 for more help.

You can track national vaccine data using the CDC's online tracker.

To find out criteria for obtaining a vaccine booster shot, visit DHEC’s South Carolina COVID-19 Booster Shots webpage.

For more information, visit DHEC's South Carolina COVID-19 Dashboard.

Vaccines for Veterans

Veterans must be receiving their health care through the Veterans Administration to acquire a vaccine through VHA.

To find additional information regarding vaccine distribution, please check the VA.gov website.

Vaccines for U.S. Citizens Abroad

The Department of State is providing information on vaccine availability in other countries for U.S. citizens living overseas.

General COVID-19 Information

For general information about COVID-19 in the United States, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

The CDC provides guidance for COVID-19, including updated information and resources for communities, schools, workplaces and events, institutes of higher education, child care and youth sports.

Companies who wish to donate should contact FEMA here: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help

Medical facilities/nursing homes needing PPE should contact their county emergency manager to get their request into an online system called Palmetto, operation by SCEMD. If the request is not made in Palmetto, the logistics team is unaware and cannot fulfill the request.

Experiencing Symptoms?

MUSC Telehealth Info: Residents who are showing symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath should call their personal doctor or healthcare provider. If an individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians.

Prisma Telehealth Info: Get easy, affordable access to a Prisma Health care provider from your mobile device or computer.

Medicare: Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency, doctors and other health care providers can use telehealth services to treat COVID-19.

Department of State

Information for Travelers Returning to the United States:

The U.S. Department of States provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you. Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to decide whether traveling to that country is right for you. You will also find the address and phone number of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Take those with you in case of an emergency.

Link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Passport Services Available Now

Information included below from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html:

What to Expect:

Processing Times
Routine: 6 to 9 weeks
Expedited: Costs an extra $60. Takes 3 to 5 weeks.*

*Processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply.
Expedited at Agency or Center: Must have international travel in the next 14 calendar days.

We suggest you:

Send your application to us via trackable mail, so you can track your application before it enters our system. This can be done whether applying at an acceptance facility or by mail.
Pay an extra $18.32 for 1-2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport.

Planning to Travel? Apply Early! Apply at least 4-6 months before planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, we cannot guarantee you can receive in-person service at a passport agency or center. We are prioritizing customers with life-or-death emergencies. We do not charge a fee to make an appointment. Visit our Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.

Renew By Mail: Adults with 10-year passports can renew them by mail instead of appearing in person.

FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19 victims:

Applicants may apply by calling 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Multilingual services are available.

To be eligible for funeral assistance, applicants must meet these conditions:

The death must have occurred in the United States. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020.
The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

Applicants can also visit FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance/faq Information is provided in several languages both by telephone and the website.

Internal Revenue Service

· The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses, and others affected by the coronavirus. This page will be updated as new information is available.

Rental Assistance

South Carolina’s “SC Stay Plus” program is now accepting applications for rent and utility assistance. You can apply by calling 803-336-3420. Tenants who have been impacted economically throughout the pandemic may receive up to 12 months of assistance dating back to March 2020.

In the seven counties listed below, the SC Stay Plus program is not available due to preexisting rental assistance programs. If you are located in one of these counties, please refer yourself to the following link for the pre-existing rental assistance programs.

Anderson
Berkley
Charleston
Greenville
Horry
Richland
Spartanburg

https://schousing.com/Home/Resources-for-Renters

Homeowner Hardship Information

There are hardship programs in place to help homeowners who have been directly or indirectly affected by the coronavirus and are struggling to make their mortgage payments. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, encourages homeowners adversely impacted by the coronavirus who are having difficulty paying their mortgages to reach out to their mortgage servicers as soon as possible. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises, “you can find the number for your mortgage servicer on your monthly mortgage statement or coupon book.”

FHFA has established a dedicated webpage with relevant updates and resources available here: www.fhfa.gov/coronavirus.

Additionally, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have their own dedicated webpages for homeowners, with online tools for determining if your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac:

Fannie Mae: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Help

Use Fannie Mae’s Loan Lookup Tool
Or call 1-800-2FANNIE (1-800-232-6643)

Freddie Mac: Extending Help to Homeowners Impacted by COVID-19

Use Freddie Mac’s Loan Lookup Tool
Or call 1-800-FREDDIE (1-800-373-3343)

Funding for Local Governments

The American Rescue Act provides for funding to assist local governments. The U.S. Department of Treasury has provided guidance and regulations to determine funding allocation and eligible uses of funding. For more information on Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, please visit: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/state-and-local-governments.

The Municipal Association of South Carolina is also providing information for local officials at https://www.masc.sc/Pages/legislative/American-Rescue-Plan.aspx. MASC plans to update the information as additional guidance is provided by the federal government.

Food Assistance

If you need ongoing food assistance, you may apply for SNAP benefits online, by mail, or fax. For information on how to apply online or to download an application to print out, visit the DSS website.

To find food banks: https://www.foodpantries.org/st/south_carolina

Managing Anxiety/Mental Health Resources

The American Red Cross is launching a Virtual Family Assistance Center to support families struggling with loss and grief due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Visit redcross.org/VFA or call 833-492-0094.

Additional resources:

Coping with Stress, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists
Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus, American Psychiatric Association

For free and confidential support for people in distress, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or the Crisis Text Line: Text Home to 741741.

U.S. Customs and Immigration Services

USCIS Offices are open with cautionary measures in place. For more information regarding this click here.

Social Security Administration

All local Social Security offices in South Carolina are open to the public for in-person service. It is strongly encouraged to call ahead of time for an in-person appointment.

National Park Service

The National Park Service has issued a Public Health Update.
NPS has asked that you check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.

Related Issues: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources