SC health officials report 1,638 new coronavirus cases, 48 new deaths
State health officials reported Thursday that 1,636 more South Carolinians tested positive for COVID-19.
That brings the total number of Palmetto State residents who have been diagnosed with the virus up to 87,117.
Department of Health and Environmental Control officials also reported that 48 more South Carolinians died after contracting the coronavirus, bringing the statewide death toll up to 1,599.
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 remain high, with more than 1,500 coronavirus patients occupying hospital beds, including 389 in intensive care.
Which counties were affected?
Richland County led the state with the most people testing positive Wednesday. Health officials confirmed 203 new coronavirus cases in the county. Neighboring Lexington County saw 56 new cases.
The following counties saw residents die after contracting COVID-19: Abbeville (1), Bamberg (4), Beaufort (3), Berkeley (1), Charleston (5), Cherokee (2), Clarendon (1), Dillon (2), Dorchester (1), Florence (3), Greenville (5), Greenwood (1), Hampton (1), Horry (1), Laurens (2), Lee (1), Lexington (4), Newberry (1), Oconee (1), Orangeburg (2), Pickens (1), Richland (1), Sumter (1) and Williamsburg (3).
Are all cases accounted for?
DHEC officials estimate that as much as 86% of South Carolinians who contract the virus don’t get tested. As of Thursday, they estimated that 622,264 people in all have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
DHEC officials have also begun investigating what they are calling probable cases and 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 Thursday, the state identified 20 new probable cases and eight new probable deaths. In all, DHEC is investigating 455 probable cases and 72 probable deaths.
How are hospitals being impacted?
South Carolina has seen record number of hospitalized coronavirus patients nearly every day in July.
Of the 1,563 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus, 389 are in intensive care and, of those, 245 are on ventilators, state health officials said.
Only 245 of the state’s 1,440 ICU beds are available. Across the state, 81% of ICU beds are in use.
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.
In Orangeburg County, the S.C. National Guard was called to build overflow tents for treating coronavirus patients when necessary. The tents will open in two or three weeks, according to media reports.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
South Carolina has seen record daily coronavirus case counts since June. New cases announced in the last four weeks accounted for nearly 50% of all cases since March. Last week, daily case counts ranged from 1,368 to 2,335. The week before, they fell between 2,295 to 1,481.
The percentage of tests that turn up positive — another indicator of the coronavirus’ spread — has been high, hovering around 20% daily for the last 28 days.
On Wednesday, 21.5% of tests reported were positive, 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, 745,198 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. On Wednesday, he opened the remaining closed businesses while putting in place a limited statewide mask rule.
Local officials have taken their own steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including in Columbia and Richland Counties 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 48 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday dated as far back as July 4.
Regardless, the state has seen an increase in deaths starting in late June.
On its deadliest day, around July 20, the coronavirus took the lives of 50 South Carolinians.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 4:14 PM.
