SC health officials announce nearly 1,500 new COVID-19 cases and more deaths
State health officials reported Saturday that 1,491 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 90,076.
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control officials also reported that 35 more South Carolinians died after contracting the coronavirus, bringing the statewide death toll up to 1,683.
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 remain high, with nearly 1,500 coronavirus patients occupying hospital beds, including 359 in intensive care.
Which counties were affected?
Charleston County led the state with the most people testing positive Friday. Health officials confirmed 124 new coronavirus cases in the county.
Anderson County, a more rural county that’s typically seen fewer cases than urban areas, had the second highest number of new cases with 118.
In the Midlands, Richland County had 72 new cases and Lexington County 40.
The deaths occurred in the following counties: Aiken (1), Anderson (2), Beaufort (1), Berkeley (1), Calhoun (1), Charleston (3), Florence (3), Georgetown (1), Greenville (3), Horry (3), Jasper (2), Kershaw (1), Lee (1), Lexington (4), Oconee (1), Pickens (1), Richland (3), Williamsburg (2), York (1)
Most who died were elderly and some were middle-aged, according to DHEC.
Are all cases accounted for?
DHEC officials estimate that as many as 86% of South Carolinians who contract the virus don’t get tested. As of Saturday, they estimated that 643,400people in all have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
DHEC officials have also begun investigating what they call 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 Saturday, the state identified seven new probable cases and four new probable deaths.
In all, DHEC is investigating 523 probable cases and 68 probable deaths.
How are hospitals being impacted?
South Carolina saw record number of hospitalized coronavirus patients nearly every day in July.
Of the 1,453 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus, 359 are in intensive care and, of those, 235 are on ventilators, state health officials said.
About 325 of the state’s 1,459 ICU beds are available.
Across the state, about 78% 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 between1,481 to 2,295.
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 Friday, 18.5% 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.
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 County 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 35 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported Saturday dated as far back as July 19.
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 August 1, 2020 at 11:36 AM.