SC sees 20 coronavirus deaths in one day, largest single day increase yet
South Carolina’s coronavirus death toll surpassed 450 Wednesday after state Department of Health and Environmental Control officials announced that 20 additional people have died.
The announcement marks COVID-19’s deadliest day in the Palmetto State. Before Wednesday, the largest number of people who died in one day after contracting the virus was 15.
Seventeen of the patients who died were elderly. They were from the following counties:
- Beaufort (1)
- Charleston (1)
- Colleton (2)
- Darlington (1)
- Fairfield (3)
- Florence (1)
- Horry (2)
- Lee (1)
- Orangeburg (1)
- Richland (3)
- Spartanburg (1)
Three patients were middle-aged, and were from Beaufort, Colleton and Lee counties.
State health officials also said that 207 more people tested positive for the virus, bringing the statewide total to 10,623.
Greenville County saw the largest increase in cases with 21. Locally, Richland County saw 17, and Lexington County saw nine.
DHEC officials estimate, though, that the number of cases they identify each day is just a fraction of the actual number.State health officials have estimated that as many as 86% of those who have contracted COVID-19 have not been tested or diagnosed.
As of Wednesday, DHEC estimates that about 75,900 South Carolinians have likely contracted the virus.
State health officials also project the state will see an increase in positive tests until at least the second week of June. That week, they expect to see 1,400 cases a week.
By the end of this week, DHEC officials have predicted 1,300 new cases. And by the end of the month, they anticipate a total of 11,396 confirmed cases.
An increase in cases could be due in part to DHEC’s plans to expand coronavirus testing. State health officials plan to test about 2% of South Carolina’s population in May and again in June.
Officials met that goal on Tuesday after completing more than 110,000 tests in May. Since the coronavirus was first found in the state in March, labs have completed 181,154 tests.
Experts have also said the state may see a second wave of cases as businesses reopen.
Since April 20, Gov. Henry McMaster has been incrementally reopening businesses. But both he and DHEC officials have continued to recommend that residents practie social distancing.
DHEC has taken other steps to help with a safe reopening, including increasing their contact tracing staff from 20 to 380. They’ve also contracted with private companies to hire 1,400 more.
New coronavirus cases
Aiken (3)
Anderson (1)
Beaufort (5)
Charleston (11)
Chester (4)
Chesterfield (8)
Clarendon (3)
Darlington (4)
Dillon (3)
Dorchester (8)
Fairfield (3)
Florence (9)
Greenville (21)
Greenwood (12)
Horry (10)
Kershaw (7)
Lee (1)
Lancaster (2)
Lexington (9)
Marion (1)
Marlboro (11)
Newberry (1)
Oconee (1)
Orangeburg (9)
Pickens (1)
Richland (17)
Spartanburg (16)
Sumter (11)
Williamsburg (4)
Union (1)
York (10)
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 3:39 PM.
