93 new coronavirus cases, 13 additional deaths in SC, health officials say
South Carolina health officials identified 93 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 6,841, according to a statement from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Thirteen additional people have also died after contracting the virus, bringing the state’s death toll to 296.
At least 12 those who died were elderly individuals, five of whom were Richland County residents. Berkeley County had three deaths, and Beaufort, Charleston, Williamsburg and York counties each saw one death. A middle-aged individual who also died was from Florence County.
The new cases were spread out over 29 counties, with Richland County reporting a double-digit increase at 12. With a total of 990 total cases, Richland leads the state, while Clarendon County continues to lead the state in cases per 100,000 residents.
As DHEC officials work to increase testing across the state, they estimate that thousands of cases have gone unidentified. On Tuesday, they estimated there have been more than 42,000 untested positive cases of the virus.
Tuesday’s case figure marks the state’s smallest increase in total new cases in more than two weeks. Officials, however, indicated just 1,001 new tests were conducted, which was also the lowest number in nearly two weeks.
State health officials have said they believe that the state’s coronavirus case curve is beginning to level off. But with the plan to ramp up testing, the number of positive cases is expected to increase.
Some health experts have pointed to the “positivity rate” — the percentage of positive cases from tests conducted — as a useful metric to look at as more total tests are conducted. DHEC recently began releasing data on the daily positivity rate. Tuesday’s was 9.3%, the highest in three days, though it declined from the previous week.
All told, DHEC and private labs have run 68,766 total tests, which would account for about 1.3% of South Carolina’s population. On Friday, state health officials estimated that about 79% of patients who tested positive for the virus have recovered.
DHEC officials have also project to have about 1,000 new coronavirus cases this week. By May 23, South Carolina is projected to have a total of 9,652 cases.
As DHEC focuses more on testing, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has allowed some businesses to reopen. Friday, McMaster lifted his mandatory work-or-home order. He also announced new guidelines for restaurants, allowing them to serve customers in outdoor seating starting Monday. The governor also lifted restrictions on short-term rentals and a mandatory self-quarantine for tourists.
At the same time, DHEC officials and McMaster have recommended residents still practice safe social distancing, and some law enforcement agencies, including the Columbia police department, will act to enforce social distancing guidelines when necessary, a spokeswoman said.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 6:28 PM.
