So far 67% of SC coronavirus patients have recovered, DHEC estimates
So far about two-thirds of the patients in South Carolina who have tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered from the disease, the Department of Health and Environmental Control said.
After reporting Friday that the state’s case count had surpassed 4,000 people, DHEC said 67% of them are estimated to have recovered. The estimate is based on all 4,086 confirmed positive cases in the state and was calculated based on assumptions about how long it takes for patients to be virus and symptom free.
DHEC officials estimated that 2,738 people have recovered from the virus, and 1,232 people, or 30.15% are still considered ill. Those numbers do not include estimates of how many cases of infection are likely unknown, however. DHEC estimates for every confirmed case of the virus, there could be as many as nine more that have not been diagnosed.
“It really is just an indication, so that you and your readers and viewers can understand that not all of those 4,000 and odd cases are actively showing signs of symptoms,” Nick Davidson, the DHEC incident commander for COVID-19, told reporters on a conference call.
DHEC also confirmed Friday that 116 residents, or 2.85% of residents who tested positive in the state, had died from complications of COVID-19.
Patients who are able to get better at home are considered “recovered” only after they reach the 14-day mark after the beginning of symptoms, and have no adverse outcomes.
If a person is hospitalized, and have other health complications, they aren’t considered recovered until 32 days after symptoms began, Davidson said.
South Carolina saw its first confirmed cases of the coronavirus on March 6. The peak in cases is expected in late April or early May.
DHEC plans to update the recovery rate estimate on Tuesdays and Fridays.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 5:50 PM.
