SC’s health agency reports more than 1,500 new coronavirus cases, 10 new deaths
South Carolina’s public health agency reported more than 1,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, the start of a July 4 weekend that has state health officials warning that large crowds will cause the virus daily counts to surge.
The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 1,558 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing South Carolina’s total ahead of the long weekend to 41,413 — roughly 27,000 of which were logged by the agency after June 1.
Officials also reported an additional 10 South Carolinians have died as a result of the virus, putting the state’s death toll at 787.
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?
Virus cases in Charleston County continue to surge with 267 more people being diagnosed.
Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach and has been noted by experts as an outbreak spot, reported 237 new confirmed cases and passed Richland County for the third most total cases in the state.
York County also saw a jump in new cases with 104.
And in the Midlands, Richland and Lexington counties logged 95 and 44 new cases, respectively.
Of the 10 new deaths reported by DHEC on Friday, six were described as elderly individuals, two were middle-aged and two were young adults. The deaths occurred in Anderson, Beaufort, Georgetown, Greenville, Kershaw, Laurens and Marion counties
HOW ARE HOSPITALS BEING IMPACTED?
The state’s health agency reported another daily high of hospitalizations due to the virus on Friday.
DHEC reported 1,148 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. Overall, 7,781 beds are in use, which is about 73% of all hospital beds in South Carolina.
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. He said he may require hospitals to postpone elective procedures.
ARE ALL CASES ACCOUNTED FOR?
Probably not.
South Carolina’s health department estimates that almost 296,000 cases exist.
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 Friday, the department reported no new probable cases and no new probable deaths.
HOW IS COVID-19 TRENDING IN SC?
DHEC reported on Friday a record 20.4% positive rate for tests, compared to the state’s lowest point at 2% to 4% back in May.
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.
WHY ARE CASE NUMBERS UP?
It goes beyond simply the expansion of COVID-19 testing statewide, health officials say.
Since March, labs statewide have completed more than 450,000 tests. A person can have multiple tests, but 450,000 would represent about 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, Richland County and the town of Lexington, 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 a 966% increase in people ages 11 to 20 and a 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 3, 2020 at 2:34 PM with the headline "SC’s health agency reports more than 1,500 new coronavirus cases, 10 new deaths."