SC coronavirus cases surpass 5,000, DHEC says. Deaths increase by eight
S.C. coronavirus cases surpassed 5,000 Friday after state health officials announced 168 additional ones.
Officials with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control also said eight more patients have died from the disease, bringing the statewide total to 157.
Of the eight new deaths:
- Six were elderly residents from Aiken, Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester, Greenville and Kershaw counties.
- Two were middle-aged and from Greenville and Lexington counties.
Florence County saw the largest increase in cases Friday with 34 new patients.
Locally, Richland County posted 29 more patients and Lexington County saw eight.
DHEC officials estimate that the actual number of S.C. coronavirus cases is much larger. Friday, the agency projected that the Palmetto State likely has seen about 36,200 cases.
Of the patients who have been tested and diagnosed with COVID-19, about 72% have recovered, DHEC officials estimated earlier this week.
South Carolina will see about 750 new cases of coronavirus per week until early May, according to estimates. While some models show that South Carolina has passed its peak number of cases, state officials say there is only evidence of a flattening of the curve, not a consistent drop-off.
South Carolina saw its first coronavirus cases on March 6 in Kershaw and Charleston counties, and has seen new cases nearly every day since.
By the end of March, the Palmetto State saw more than 1,000 cases. Case counts have fluctuated each day due to shortages in chemicals needed to perform the COVID-19 test.
While the virus continues to spread across the state, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered that some retail businesses be allowed to open, as well as public beaches. South Carolina has not met several criteria set by the White House for reopening the economy, though.
Schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, McMaster announced Wednesday.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 5:25 PM.
