SC has 86 new cases of coronavirus. Four more have died
South Carolina health officials identified 86 new cases of the coronavirus Friday, bringing the statewide total to 539.
Officials also announced four additional coronavirus-related deaths of elderly patients in Richland, Kershaw, Greenville and Florence counties, upping the state’s death total to 13.
COVID-19 cases have now been detected in 39 of the state’s 46 counties.
“It’s never easy to have to report the deaths of members of our communities,” said Brannon Traxler, a physician with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control during a Friday press conference. “We express our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of these patients.”
Charleston County saw the most significant increase with 32 new cases and now leads the state.
The number of cases continues to grow in the Midlands as well. Richland County reported five new cases Friday — one day after Columbia leaders sought to limit the virus’ spread by approving a shelter-in-place order for city residents. And in neighboring Lexington County, officials reported five cases.
Kershaw County, the epicenter of the disease in South Carolina, saw six additional cases.
Officials said Thursday the number of cases announced daily may vary in size due to a statewide and nationwide shortage of chemicals required to test for coronavirus, which caused a two-day backlog at the state lab.
Friday, DHEC officials said they received additional chemicals in the mail and anticipate eliminating their roughly 1,600-sample backlog by this weekend. A second order of chemicals is also on the way, they added.
Bell said S.C. cases are expected to continue to increase, but how large that increase is depends on how well people practice social distancing.
Meanwhile, state and locals officials are prepping for a spike in cases. More than 2,600 S.C. cases of coronavirus are expected by April 2 and more than 8,000 cases by May 2, according to DHEC projections.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has taken several steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including allowing police to break up groups of three or more people, dispersing visitors to public beaches and shuttering restaurants’ dining rooms across the state. Meanwhile, Columbia and a handful of other S.C. cities have issued stay-at-home orders to residents.
The state Legislature has allocated $45 million to DHEC to fight coronavirus, $10 million of which state health officials have withdrawn to help with workforce needs, teleworking and buying protective equipment.
Health officials have also received a shipment from the national stockpile of medical equipment and distributed items to the counties. DHEC director Rick Toomey said Tuesday the agency would receive a second shipment from the stockpile, distributed by early next week.
New coronavirus cases
Aiken County: 2 cases
Beaufort County: 6 cases
Berkeley County: 2 cases
Charleston County: 32 cases
Chesterfield County: 1 case
Clarendon County: 1 case
Colleton County: 1 case
Dorchester County: 5 cases
Florence County: 6 cases
Horry County: 3 cases
Kershaw County: 6 cases
Lancaster County: 1 case
Lexington County: 5 cases
Oconee County: 1 case
Orangeburg County: 1 case
Pickens County: 1 case
Richland County: 5 cases
Spartanburg County: 7 cases
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 27, 2020 at 4:33 PM.
