SC sees more than 900 new COVID-19 cases, record-breaking number of hospitalizations
South Carolina health officials announced they had identified 934 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases the state has seen since March up to 47,214.
One in five or 20.7% of tests reported Tuesday came back positive.
Nineteen more people have also died after contracting COVID-19, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. In all, 838 South Carolinians have died after contracting the virus.
State health officials also recorded a record number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with more than 1,300.
Which counties were affected?
Horry County led the state with the largest increase in cases with 109 reported Tuesday. It was followed by Beaufort County with 105.
Locally, Richland County saw 80 new cases, and Lexington County saw 53.
Charleston County saw the most deaths reported Tuesday, with five elderly and one middle-aged person dying after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Anderson, Greenville and Richland counties all reported three deaths each, while Abbeville, Aiken, Cherokee and Marion reported one each.
Are all cases accounted for?
South Carolina health officials estimated that as many as 86% of South Carolinians who contract COVID-19 go undiagnosed or untested, meaning they are not included in the counts released each day. On Tuesday, they estimated a total of 337,243 people have likely contracted the virus since March.
DHEC has also started to track what officials consider to be probable cases or probable deaths.
A probable case is someone who has not received lab test results but has virus symptoms or a positive antibody test. A probable death is someone who has not gotten a lab test but whose death certificate lists COVID-19 as a cause of death or a contributing factor.
On Tuesday, they did not find any new probable deaths or cases.
How are hospitals being impacted?
The number of coronavirus patients who are hospitalized are reaching new highs each week. Last week, state health officials reported that more than 1,000 coronavirus patients were occupying hospital beds across the state, breaking that record for the first time. Hospitals have seen more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients every day since.
As of Tuesday, 1,324 of the 7,734 occupied hospital beds in the state are being used by patients with COVID-19, a new record.
Across the state, hospitals were at an average of about 73% capacity.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has said the state is ready to implement a plan to create new bed space if hospitals become overburdened. He added he may require medical facilities to postpone elective procedures again.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
South Carolina has seen record daily coronavirus case counts over the last month, one indicator that the virus’ activity is increasing.
Last week, daily case counts ranged from 1,319 to a record 1,885 cases. The week before, they fell between 890 and 1,599.
State health officials also reported that the percentage of tests that turn up positive — another indicator of the coronavirus’ spread — has been rising over the last 28 days.
Officials reported that 20.7% of tests reported Tuesday turned out positive. That number is higher than what health officials saw in March and early April. In May, at its lowest point, the percentage of positive tests fell between 2% and 4% on average.
Why are case numbers up?
DHEC officials say case counts are surging because more people are leaving their homes as businesses reopen and fewer are practicing social distancing and wearing masks.
Since April 20, the governor has gradually reopened businesses, including restaurants, retailers, beaches, gyms and salons. Last month, McMaster announced the start of a new program that offers restaurant decals to show they are following precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DHEC.
But McMaster has repeatedly said he would not consider closing businesses again or requiring South Carolinians to wear masks in response to the coronavirus case explosion.
In contrast to McMaster’s statements, state epidemiologist Linda Bell has said a statewide mask requirement could help to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Local officials have taken their own steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including in Columbia where masks are now required.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 2:13 PM.
