SC’s health agency reports an additional 1,629 coronavirus cases, 19 new deaths
South Carolina’s public health agency reported another large batch of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the eve of a holiday weekend that has state health officials warning large Fourth of July crowds will only cause the virus daily counts to further surge.
The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 1,629 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing South Carolina’s total ahead of the long weekend to 39,587 — roughly 27,000 of which were logged by the agency after June 1.
Officials also reported an additional 19 South Carolinians have died as a result of the virus, putting the state’s death toll at 777.
Health officials this week said that the virus’ spread is hurting DHEC’s ability to conduct contract tracing, which allows health officials to pinpoint where a spread starts and further curb the outbreak. But with daily case counts soaring beyond 1,000 each day, state epidemiologist Linda Bell said Wednesday contact tracers will not be as effective, meaning the burden falls on South Carolinians.
“We must get these escalating numbers under much better control, and to do that, each of us must make an intentional effort,” Bell said on Wednesday. “An unselfish decision on each of our parts is needed to protect others from this virus through wearing masks and practicing social distancing.”
With most South Carolinians off work on Friday ahead of a long weekend, state leaders are asking people to stay home.
WHICH COUNTIES WERE AFFECTED?
Greenville County reported 246 new cases on Thursday, narrowly leading the state. Charleston County was right behind with 244.
Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach and has been noted by experts as an outbreak spot, reported 179 new confirmed cases and passed Richland County for the third most total cases in the state.
And in the Midlands, Richland and Lexington counties logged 114 and 64 new cases, respectively.
Of the 19 new deaths reported by DHEC on Thursday, 15 were described as elderly individuals and four were middle-aged. Florence and Lexington counties led the way with three deaths each, while Beaufort, Horry, Richland and Sumter counties each had two and Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington and Spartanburg counties each reported one.
HOW ARE HOSPITALS BEING IMPACTED?
The state’s health agency reported on Thursday another daily high of hospitalizations due to the virus.
On Thursday, DHEC reported 1,125 of the 7,830 hospital beds currently in use are now occupied by COVID-19 patients. With 2,836 beds available, the state’s hospitals are now 73.4% full.
South Carolina first surpassed 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients on Monday.
Should the state run out of available beds, Gov. Henry McMaster last month said the state is ready to implement an expanded hospital plan that will open up more bed space and he may require hospitals to postpone elective procedures.
ARE ALL CASES ACCOUNTED FOR?
Not quite.
South Carolina’s health department reiterated Thursday it estimates as many as 86% of cases in the state have gone undiagnosed or untested.
With that estimate, it would mean the state’s total number of cases could be at roughly 282,750.
Since last month, DHEC now tracks what officials consider probable cases or probable deaths.
A probable case is a person who has not received lab test results but has virus symptoms or a positive antibody test. A probable death is a person who has not gotten a lab test but whose death certificate lists COVID-19 as a cause of death or as a contributing factor.
On Thursday, the department reported three new probable cases and no new probable deaths.
HOW IS COVID-19 TRENDING IN SC?
Health officials have noted that since Memorial Day weekend in May, positive case numbers have continued to increase.
Last month, daily case counts ranged from more than 500 early on to a record daily high of more than 1,700 at June’s end.
In May, the state never had more than 400 cases in a single day.
Another indicator of the virus’ spread is the percentage of COVID-19 tests reporting back as positive.
DHEC reported on Thursday a 16.9% positive rate for tests, compared to the state’s lowest point at 2% to 4% back in May.
WHY ARE CASE NUMBERS UP?
It goes beyond simply the expansion of COVID-19 testing statewide, health officials say.
Statewide since March, labs have completed more than 400,000 tests. A person can have multiple tests, but 400,000 would represent about 7.8% of all South Carolinians. In the coming months, the health department plans to continue increasing testing to about 140,000 tests in both July and August and 165,000 tests a month by the new year.
“Doing testing doesn’t create new cases,” DHEC’s Dr. Bell said last week. “When we test, we’re finding cases that are already out there.”
Health officials say not enough South Carolinians are implementing safety measures into their daily lives that include social distancing and avoiding large crowds and wearing face masks. Several counties and cities, including Columbia, now enforce face masks.
DHEC and hospitals are seeing a large surge in the number of younger adults testing positive.
This week, the health agency reported 966% increase in people ages 11 to 20 and 413% increase in people ages 21 to 30 testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks.
McMaster has said he will not set a statewide mask ordinance despite urging people to wear one, calling it impossible to enforce.
Since April, McMaster has gradually allowed businesses to reopen, including restaurants, beaches, gyms and salons.
McMaster told reporters last month he has no plans to impose more restrictions on businesses. But he did stress that should cases continue to skyrocket in South Carolina, fall sports, including college football, could be canceled.
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 2:04 PM.
