For the first time since October, Lexington Medical Center announced updated COVID-19 hospitalization numbers.

As of Thursday, 80 patients are hospitalized with the virus, 20 of which are in the ICU.

Additionally, the hospital reported that of 981 COVID tests administered on Wednesday, 43% were positive. 

The S.C. The Department of Health and Environmental Control reported the statewide percent positive as 32.7% on Wednesday. It was 29.1% on Thursday. DHEC announced 6,992 new South Carollina COVID cases on Wednesday and 13,320 on Thursday, with 41 and 25 new deaths on each day, respectively.

The last time Lexington Medical reported COVID hospitalization figures was Oct. 29. At that time, 17 people were hospitalized with the virus, 10 of which were in the ICU. 

“We are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases in our community and at our hospital,” reads a Lexington Medical Facebook post revealing the new figures. “In a few weeks, we have increased from approximately 20 patients hospitalized with the virus to now 80 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. To protect yourself and others, we urge you to wear a mask, maintain social distance when possible and get vaccinated.”

Lexington Medical is now administering first doses and boosters of the Pfizer COVID vaccine to eligible patients as young as 12. The hospital operates a vaccination clinic at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved lowering the elibibility for Pfizer boosters to age 12 and released a recommendation that adolescents 12-17 should receive a booster five months after their initial vaccination series.

“It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said in a written statement. "This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant."

Prisma Health — the Midlands' other major hospital system, which also has a large presence in the Upstate — has also seen a sharp uptick in COVID patients. On Dec. 29, Prisma had 223 people hospitalized with COVID, 50 of which were in the ICU and 20 of which were on ventilators. On Wednesday, the number was up to 416, with 33 patients on ventilators.