More than 1,600 test positive for COVID-19 in SC, 39 deaths confirmed
South Carolina’s health agency announced an additional 1,654 positive cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the total number of positive tests in the state to 74,761 since testing began in March.
About one in five people whose results were reported Wednesday tested positive for the virus, a trend that had held steady for 26 days.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control also reported Wedneday that 39 more people have died after contracting the coronavirus and an additional 26 deaths likely resulted from COVID-19 infections.
In all, 1,242 South Carolinians have died since March from confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
State health officials did not hold a briefing with reporters Wednesday. Here’s what we know:
Which counties were affected?
Charleston County saw the largest increase in daily cases with 190 reported by the state health agency. In the Midlands, officials saw an increase of 173 cases in Richland County, and 89 new positive tests in Lexington County.
The people with confirmed COVID-19 related deaths were from the following counties: Anderson (2), Berkeley (2), Charleston (10), Darlington (1), Dorchester (3), Florence (2), Georgetown (1), Greenville (1), Horry (4), Lancaster (1), Laurens (2), Lee (1), Lexington (1), Orangeburg (1), Pickens (1), Richland (2), Spartanburg (1), Sumter (1) and York (1).
Are all cases accounted for?
DHEC officials estimate that 86% of people who contract the coronavirus don’t get tested. As of Wednesday, state health officials estimate that 534,007 people have actually contracted COVID-19 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 Wednesday, officials reported 26 new probable deaths and one new probable case.
How are hospitals being impacted?
South Carolina has seen record numbers of hospitalized coronavirus patients nearly every day in July.
As of Wednesday, 1,607 of 9,961 occupied hospital beds across the state were being used by people diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are thought to have it, a new record. That means that about 16% of beds in use are occupied by coronavirus patients.
In all, 87% of hospital beds across the state are being used.
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. Officials with the S.C. Emergency Management Division have said the state had not reached that point.
But in Orangeburg County, the S.C. National Guard was called to build overflow tents to hold coronavirus patients.
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 19.3% 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, 659,541 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, so each day’s release of death numbers results in cases being added to the state’s daily death counts for previous days. For example, the 39 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday dated as far back as July 2.
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 38 South Carolinians, a figure that increased Wednesday with the addition of three new deaths for that day.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 2:56 PM.
