Cases of coronavirus continue to rise in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, officials says
The number of cases of the coronavirus continues to rise in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, as at least 22 new patients tested positive for COVID-19 by noon Wednesday.
Nearly half of them were confirmed in Dorchester County, which recorded its largest single-day increase in COVID-19 patients since it began testing, according to a news release.
Officials said there were 10 new cases of the coronavirus in Dorchester County, bringing its total to 27 confirmed cases since testing began in early March.
The number of positive tests in Dorchester has more than doubled in the past three days.
A hospital system in Charleston also reported a rise in COVID-19 patients.
A dozen people tested positive for the coronavirus at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, said Andy Lyons, a spokesman for the Charleston hospitals.
The hospital has reported 65 positive tests overall, Lyons said. Five of the confirmed COVID-19 patients have been admitted for treatment, and the rest have been instructed to self-isolate at home.
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.
Since early March, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported there have been 142 positive COVID-19 tests in Charleston County, following only Richland County (148) for most of any county in South Carolina. One person died after testing positive in Charleston County, according to DHEC.
A stay at home ordinance was approved in the city of Charleston last week in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
On Tuesday, 158 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 1,083 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 41 counties, according to DHEC.
Six of the news cases on Tuesday were in Kershaw County.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 22 in less than a month. State health officials described 21 of the people as elderly, one person was middle-aged, and all but two had underlying medical conditions.
There have been 4,616 negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 911,308 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 45,371 people have died, while 191,673 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 199,092 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 4,361 deaths have been reported, including 1,139 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
