SC health officials report 57 COVID-19 deaths, nearly 1,900 test positive
South Carolina health officials announced Tuesday that 1,870 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus across the state.
Since March, 73,101 South Carolinians have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC officials also reported that 57 more people have died after contracting the coronavirus, bringing the state’s death toll up to 1,203.
Which counties were affected?
Richland County led the state with the largest increase in identified cases. On Tuesday, health officials reported that 193 Richland residents tested positive for COVID-19.
In neighboring Lexington County, 110 people tested positive for the coronavirus.
The patients who died were from the following counties: Aiken (3), Beaufort (3), Berkeley (1), Charleston (15), Cherokee (1), Colleton (1), Darlington (1), Dillon (1), Dorchester (5), Florence (2), Georgetown (1), Greenville (3), Greenwood (1), Horry (3), Jasper (1), Laurens (2), Lexington (2), Newberry (1), Orangeburg (1), Pickens (1), Richland (3), Spartanburg (3) and York (2).
Are all cases accounted for?
Only about 14% of people who contract the coronavirus in South Carolina get tested, DHEC officials estimate. That means that 86% do not get counted or identified by state health officials. In all, they believe that 522,150 people have actually contracted the virus since March.
State health officials have 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 reported one probable cases and one probable death.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
South Carolina has seen record daily coronavirus case counts since June. New cases announced in the last three weeks accounted for nearly 50% of all cases since March.
Last week, daily case counts ranged from 2,295 to 1,481. The week before, they fell between 934 to 2,239.
DHEC officials also noted 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 22% of tests reported Monday were 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.
Nationally, about 8.7% of tests turn up positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In all, 648,663 tests have been completed since March.
Why are case numbers up?
DHEC officials say case counts are surging because more people are leaving their homes as businesses reopen. Fewer people are practicing social distancing and wearing masks, they said.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has gradually reopened businesses since April 20, including restaurants, retailers, beaches, gyms and salons. 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.
How are deaths trending?
Deaths reported to DHEC officials each day are delayed. For example, deaths reported Tuesday dated as far back as July 3.
Regardless, the state has seen an increase in deaths starting in late June.
On its deadliest day, around July 13, the coronavirus took the lives of 35 South Carolinians.
How are hospitals being impacted?
South Carolina has seen a record number of hospitalized coronavirus patients nearly every day in July.
As of Tuesday, about 1,593 of 9,598 occupied hospital beds across the state were being used by people diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are thought to have it. That means that about 16.6% of beds in use were being used by coronavirus patients.
In all, hospitals across the state are at about 84% capacity, according to DHEC.
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. On Thursday, officials with the S.C. Emergency Management Division said the state had not reached that point.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 2:53 PM.
