Officials confirm 8 new coronavirus cases in SC. Colleton, Greenwood have first patients
Two people in Greenwood County and a person in Colleton County were diagnosed with the coronavirus while a Charleston hospital confirmed five new cases of the virus, according to officials.
The two cases in Greenwood County were screened at Self Regional Healthcare and confirmed Saturday morning, the hospital reported. Prior to Saturday morning Greenwood County had not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. The cases were tested through the hospital’s drive-thru screening, which the health care system is providing to a six-county area around Greenwood.
Self Regional Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Matthew Logan said the hospital had been “anticipating our first positive cases, and have been working for weeks to make the necessary preparations and establish protocols that will allow us to safely care for patients with COVID-19 and keep our clinicians and our community safe at the same time.“
Logan added that the hospital is “following the protocols that have been put in place for home quarantine for these patients” and was encouraging people to “remain calm and continue to follow” established recommendations for social distancing and hand-washing to limit potential exposure to the virus.
Meanwhile, state health officials informed Colleton County leaders Saturday of Colleton’s first case of the virus, according to a county spokesperson.
Roper St. Francis Hospital in Charleston also had five new positive tests for the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total number of diagnoses from hospital to ten. Five additional cases were announced Friday, according to the hospital. The latest cases were tested Friday night and Saturday morning.
Some of the 10 positive cases screened at Roper St. Francis are quarantined at home while others are hospitalized, according to the hospital.
“Today, we are asking that patients who have been screened for COVID-19, are waiting for results and need to return for care to call one of our healthcare facilities ahead of time so we can properly meet their needs,” the hospital said in a statement.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include coughing, fever and shortness of breath.
Saturday’s positive tests bring the total number of COVID-19 cases to 134, though that total is pending confirmation by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Another student at the University of South Carolina tested positive for the virus, the school announced Saturday.
So far three people in South Carolina have died from complications from the coronavirus. One of those three was a patient from Roper St. Francis Hospital who died “from complications associated with COVID-19 and significant previous medical conditions,” according to the hospital.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 3:05 PM.