140 more test positive for coronavirus in SC. 15 additional people dead from virus
South Carolina health officials identified 140 additional people with the coronavirus Monday, and 15 more who have died after contracting COVID-19.
That brings the statewide death toll to 346 and the total number of identified cases to 7,792, according to a statement from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Eleven of the people who died were described as elderly, and were from Charleston (1); Clarendon (1); Florence (1); Hampton (1); Lancaster (1); Lexington (3) and Richland (3) counties. Four were middle-aged and from Fairfield (1); Florence (2) and Sumter (1) counties.
Overall, Florence County saw the largest increase in cases Monday.
Locally, Richland County saw 19 new cases, and Lexington County saw six.
Thousands of people who have contracted COVID-19 have not been tested, DHEC officials estimate. As of Monday, state health officials believe more than 55,600 people have contracted the virus since it reached the state.
Of the people who tested positive for the coronavirus, about 81% of them have recovered, DHEC officials said.
About 1,000 new coronavirus cases are anticipated this week, according to DHEC projections.. Last week, the state saw 1,086 confirmed and identified cases. By the end of May, DHEC officials project they will see about 900 new cases per week.
By May 23, state officials are expecting a total of 9,652 cases since the pandemic began. And by the last week of May, they expect to about 10,493.
South Carolina’s coronavirus curve is leveling off, DHEC officials have said. But they stress identified cases will likely increase as more testing ramps up. The agency is planning to nearly double the amount of testing by the end of May, with a goal of testing 2% of the state’s population each month. So far, about 1.7% of the state’s residents have been tested.
“We’re currently on track to meeting this target by the end of the month,” said state epidemiologist Linda Bell on Monday.
Additionally, DHEC officials have begun their first round of testing in S.C. nursing homes with the goal of testing every resident and staff member.
Labs across the state have completed a total of 89,968 tests. In all, about 9% of tests have been positive, Bell said.
South Carolina is also ramping up contact tracing efforts. DHEC has increased its contact tracing staff from 20 to 400 as of Monday, the department announced. The agency also retained 1,400 more contact tracers by contracting with private companies.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has expressed confidence in reopening the state.
Monday, he lifted restrictions on close-contact businesses including hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, gyms and pools. The businesses will be allowed to reopen May 18.
He also announced that he would be recalling state employees to work in offices. The first group will be returning to the office once ample personal protective equipment is on site. They will be in the offices no later than June 1.
“We will gradually return to normal,” McMaster said.
Restaurants were allowed to open for limited dine-in services Monday.. The governor has also lifted restrictions on boating, short-term rentals, beaches and visitors to the state. He also lifted his mandatory work-or-home order.
DHEC officials and McMaster have recommended residents continue to practice social distancing as businesses reopen.
New coronavirus cases
- Aiken (1)
- Allendale (1)
- Anderson (1)
- Beaufort (1)
- Berkeley (3)
- Charleston (10)
- Chester (3)
- Chesterfield (1)
- Clarendon (2)
- Darlington (5)
- Dillon (7)
- Dorchester (2)
- Fairfield (1)
- Florence (21)
- Georgetown (1)
- Greenville (13)
- Greenwood (1)
- Horry (5)
- Kershaw (4)
- Lancaster (1)
- Laurens (1)
- Lee (9)
- Lexington (6)
- Marion (1)
- Marlboro (2)
- Richland (19)
- Saluda (3)
- Spartanburg (3)
- Sumter (3)
- Union (1)
- Williamsburg (5)
- York (3)
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 4:54 PM.
