Two more people with coronavirus have died in SC, state health officials say
In South Carolina, two more people have died after contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to seven, state health officials announced Tuesday.
The latest deaths were two elderly patients from Horry and Florence counties.
“Sadly, we have to announce again today that we’ve lost fellow South Carolinians due to complications from COVID-19,” said Dr. Jonathan Knoche, DHEC physician, in a statement.
The patient in Florence County is the second death in that county and had underlying health conditions, officials said, while the one in Horry County is the first of the seven deaths so far not to have any underlying health conditions. All seven, though, have been elderly individuals.
Also on Tuesday, officials said a patient who previously died that was reported to be from Kershaw County was actually determined to be from Sumter County. Other individuals in that state who have died have been from Charleston, Clarendon and Lexington counties.
There have been more than 700 deaths related to COVID-19 in the U.S., with more than a dozen states reporting 10 or more, and 53,000 total cases. As of Tuesday, South Carolina has had 342 positive cases of coronavirus in 36 of 46 counties.
South Carolina officials have been hitting the coronavirus head on over the last week, and several drive-through testing sites, including one in Kershaw County, the county with the most positive cases, have been established.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has also authorized police to break up gatherings of three or more people outside of businesses or private homes and called on police to disperse large gatherings on public beaches. Last week, the governor ordered restaurants to close their dining rooms.
Still, officials with the Department of Health and Environmental Control have warned that the number of positive cases are expected to continue rising, and scientist Jim Morris, director emeritus of USC’s Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Science, predicted an “explosion” of new cases in the weeks to come.
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 24, 2020 at 7:44 PM.
