South Carolina health officials have continued to withhold _____ from first responders. { = detailed information on the location of coronavirus cases ~ special protective gear ~ guidance on federal health privacy laws ~ state income tax refunds } South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control has lagged behind other states in reporting several key factors used to track the outbreak, like { = the number of people sick enough to go to the hospital. ~ the availability of special protective gear. ~ the number of testing sites statewide. ~ how other states approach testing. } Information about the number of people sick enough to go to the hospital is especially important in South Carolina because { = South Carolina has reported relatively few test results compared to the rest of the country. ~ it is the best indicator of how other states approach testing. ~ it is the best indicator of how a lack of key materials has delayed testing results. ~ it will allow health officials to avoid lengthy quarantines that may be unnecessary. } The state’s outbreak had swelled to _____ known cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday evening. } = 660 ~ 60 ~ 5000 ~ 8000 } Since tests often take a week to complete, the number of known cases of COVID-19 { = is probably less than the actual number of cases. ~ is probably greater than the actual number of cases. ~ is of no value in tracking the spread of the virus. ~ is an accurate real time indicator of infection information. } The state health agency insists it’s doing all it can to alert the public { = about the virus’ risks. ~ who may be carrying the virus. ~ about federal health privacy laws. ~ about how other states approach testing. } State officials said a low supply of key materials { = has delayed testing results. ~ has delayed production of special protective gear. ~ had made it difficult to share information. ~ has hampered hospital staffing demands. } State officials contend their decisions to share information { = must fall within federal health privacy laws. ~ in other states have already enacted them. ~ can only be made when patients are discharged. ~ will do nothing to prevent the outbreak’s spread. } Local government leaders say the people with the greatest need for information on the location of coronavirus cases are { = paramedics and other first responders. ~ hospital patients. ~ federal officials. ~ manufacturers of special protective gear. } Counties want DHEC to share addresses of individuals { = who have tested positive for the virus. ~ who have purchased large quantities of hand sanitizer. ~ who have recently returned from trips to other countries. ~ who have recently filed unemployment claims. } New guidelines from _____ stressed that federal law allows health authorities to share with first responders the names and addresses of individuals known to be carrying the virus. { = the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ~ other states ~ the COVID Tracking Project ~ South Carolina officials } A director with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said disclosures of the names and addresses of individuals known to be carrying the virus are critical so first responders have greater access to { = real time infection information. ~ key materials needed for testing. ~ special protective gear. ~ every patient who may be hospitalized. } South Carolina DHEC officials agreed only to share a breakdown of cases { = by ZIP code. ~ by age and gender. ~ when patients are discharged. ~ by county. } South Carolina DHEC did grant a request to offer priority status to first responders { = who seek testing for the virus. ~ need to be hospitalized. ~ have applied for unemployment benefits. ~ working at testing sites statewide. } South Carolina DHEC announced _____ testing sites statewide where priority status will be given to first responders seeking to be tested for the virus. { = nine ~ three ~ 14 ~ 36 } Officials in Lee County say they need detailed information on the location of coronavirus cases to help triage their limited supply of { = special protective gear. ~ key materials needed for virus testing. ~ hospital beds. ~ ventilators. } Officials in Oconee County say they’ve gotten more information about the outbreak in their county from _____ than they have from South Carolina officials. { = North Carolina ~ The Oregonian newspaper ~ the COVID Tracking Project. ~ The Post and Courier newspaper } In recent days, South Carolina has taken some steps { = toward improving transparency. ~ toward complying with federal health privacy laws. ~ to secure key materials needed for virus testing. ~ to avoid lengthy quarantines that may be unnecessary. } In addition to publishing case information by ZIP code, South Carolina is now reporting basic demographics for patients, like their { = age and gender. ~ ethnicity. ~ level of education. ~ employment status. } DHEC also gives occasional weekly updates on how many people _____ after becoming sick enough to be hospitalized. { = were tested ~ left the country ~ required ventilators ~ were found not to be carrying the virus. } As of Friday, March 27, South Carolina has reported test results at a rate of about _____ people per every 100,000 residents. { = 57 ~ 25 ~ 700 ~ 5,700 } The national average of tests per 100,000 residents is roughly three times higher than South Carolina, according to data compiled by { = the COVID Tracking Project. ~ the U.S. Post Office. ~ The Post and Courier newspaper. ~ the World Health Organization. } Hospital admissions are seen as a clearer measure for tracking the virus because the metric isn’t swayed by { = differences in how states approach testing. ~ paramedics and other first responders. ~ staffing demands. ~ lengthy quarantines that may be unnecessary. } At least 25 states update the public on COVID-related hospitalizations every day, according to { = a Post and Courier review of health department data. ~ purchase invoices for key materials used in virus testing. ~ South Carolina officials. ~ local government leaders. } Health department data showed about _____ of confirmed cases were tested in the hospital. { = one fourth ~ one half ~ three fourths ~ 90 percent } _____ keep track of when patients are discharged. { = Iowa, Minnesota and Rhode Island ~ Colorado, Connecticut and Mississippi ~ Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia ~ Louisiana, Texas and Washington } Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, said that to prevent the outbreak’s spread, it is more important to track _____ than the outcomes of every patient who may or may not be hospitalized. { = test results ~ staffing demands ~ requests for special protective gear ~ how other states approach testing } Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, said that the health department does not follow individuals { = throughout their hospital course. ~ from local government. ~ who interact with paramedics and other first responders. ~ who have been subjected to unnecessary quarantines. } The _____ published a letter the group wrote to Gov. Henry McMaster on Tuesday, March 24, pleading for assistance. { = South Carolina Association of Counties ~ American Medical Association ~ Post and Courier ~ COVID Tracking Project } The South Carolina Association of Counties asked that first responders get priority access to testing to avoid { = lengthy quarantines that may be unnecessary. ~ the need for special protective gear. ~ circumventing federal health privacy laws. ~ real time infection information. }