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 the 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 out https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
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
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
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, which is available in a variety of languages both over the phone and online.
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.” CUT?
- 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
Freddie Mac: Extending Help to Homeowners Impacted by COVID-19
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
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:
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.
National Park 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.
- A new page on IRS.gov has information on the 2020 or 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit and 2020 individual income tax returns. Eligible individuals can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR. These forms can also be used by people who are not normally required to file tax returns but are eligible for the credit.
- The 2020 Instructions for Forms 1040 and Form 1040-SR will include a worksheet taxpayers can use to figure the amount of any Recovery Rebate Credit for which they are eligible. Because the Economic Impact Payments taxpayers received in 2020 or 2021 were an advance of the recovery rebate, the worksheet provides them a Recovery Rebate Credit to the extent their 2020 or 2021 recovery rebate amount is more than their Economic Impact Payment.
- Taxpayers may be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2020 circumstances if:
- They are eligible but were not issued an Economic Impact Payment, or
- Their Economic Impact Payment was less than the full amount to which they’re ultimately eligible, $1,200 ($2,400 if married filing a joint return) plus $500 for each qualifying child they had in 2020.
For additional information see Recovery Rebate Credit on IRS.gov.
- All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting March 17, 2020. They are still able to provide critical services and will make certain exceptions for specific dire need situations.
- If you need to contact your local office for a dire need situation, please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator.
- Additional funding to this program was provided in January, 2021 LINK https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/01/04/usda-announces-continuation-farmers-families-food-box-program-fifth
- Information from the USDA can be found here: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
- Pandemic Assistances Revenue Program (PARP) & Emergency Relief (ERP) Program Phase 2.
- Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) provides direct financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who suffered at least a 15% loss in gross revenue in calendar year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, which provides $10 billion in aid to agricultural producers affected by costs associated with losses of eligible crops due in whole or in part to a qualifying disaster event experienced during the calendar years 2020 and 2021, includes the Emergency Relief Program Phase 2 as one of its provisions. ERP Phase 2 offers producers who experienced an acceptable revenue loss in the disaster year as opposed to the benchmark year direct cash support.
- For more information, visit the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program | Farmers.gov website
- Family Connection of SC is temporarily postponing in-person trainings, outreach events, and, and home visits. The Family Information Center will remain open to provide support, information, and referrals for families with children that have a disability or special healthcare need.
