DHEC epidemiologist: Another COVID-19 surge in SC is a âtop concernâ VIDEO: DHEC epidemiologist: Another COVID-19 surge in SC is a âtop concernâ By Adam Mintzer | April 5, 2021 at 7:47 PM EDT - Updated April 5 at 8:24 PM COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - After a couple months of a steady decline in new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in South Carolina, a state health leader is concerned this trend might be changing. âI think people are feeling optimistic because weâve had decreasing trends over the past nine weeks but itâs starting to flatten out. Itâs plateaued in South Carolina,â said Dr. Jane Kelly, Assistant State Epidemiologist with the Department of Health and Environmental Control.