Identified coronavirus cases in SC reaches 2,417. Three more deaths reported Tuesday
South Carolina health officials identified 187 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, bringing the statewide total of known cases to 2,417.
Three additional South Carolinians have died as a result of the disease, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. All three were 60 years old or older, and had underlying health conditions. Two were from Lexington County and one was from Greenville County, according to DHEC.
Statewide, the death toll is now 51.
The actual number of S.C. cases is likely higher than what is being reported. As of Sunday evening, DHEC estimated the state had more than 15,000 cases of COVID-19, meaning about 85% of cases have not been tested or identified.
The percentage of untested cases is thought to be even more prominent in South Carolina’s rural counties. For example, in Dillon County, more than 97% of cases are unidentified, according to the new estimates.
Testing backlogs at private labs may also help explain the discrepancy between the number of reported cases and actual cases. To date, S.C. labs have completed a total of 23,680 tests. At DHEC’s private lab, more than 8,100 tests have been conducted, 941 of which were positive for the virus.
In the Midlands, identified cases have spanned nearly every zip code in Richland and Lexington counties, according to data released by DHEC Friday.
The vast number of cases and the expected continuing increase could strain S.C. hospitals, which are already short on supplies and staff.
As of Tuesday, hospitals across the state were at 53.3% capacity, DHEC officials said in a statement. State leaders plan to expand the number of available beds, adding about 3,000 more to the current 6,000 beds by early May.
DHEC officials have also received two shipments from the national stockpile of medical supplies and expect a third shipment.
Government officials have taken several steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Monday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster issued a mandatory “home or work” order, limiting residents to their homes unless they are working, obtaining essential goods or services, visiting family or exercising.
McMaster has also issued orders closing schools through the end of April, directing restaurants to close their dining rooms, giving police the ability to break up groups of three or more, ordering nonessential businesses to close and closing access points to state beaches and waterways.
New cases of coronavirus
Aiken: 1
Anderson: 3
Bamberg: 1
Beaufort: 6
Berkeley: 3
Charleston: 5
Chester: 1
Chesterfield: 1
Clarendon: 10
Darlington: 2
Fairfield: 1
Florence: 6
Georgetown: 1
Greenville: 10
Greenwood: 1
Hampton: 1
Horry: 15
Jasper: 1
Kershaw: 7
Lancaster: 3
Lee: 1
Lexington: 6
Marion: 1
Marlboro: 2
Oconee: 1
Orangeburg: 2
Pickens: 1
Richland: 29
Saluda: 1
Spartanburg: 32
Sumter: 15
Union: 3
Williamsburg: 1
York: 13.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 4:03 PM.
