More than 1,100 test positive for COVID-19 in SC, 45 more die
State Department of Health and Environmental Control officials announced Wednesday that 1,175 more South Carolinians have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Since March, 94,837 Palmetto State residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
State health officials also reported that 45 more people died after testing positive for the virus, bringing the death toll up to 1,819.
DHEC officials did not hold a briefing with reporters Wednesday.
Which counties were affected?
Richland County saw the largest increase in identified coronavirus cases Wednesday, with 146 residents testing positive. In Lexington County, 47 residents tested positive for COVID-19.
Residents of the following counties were reported dead: Aiken (2), Anderson (2), Bamberg (2), Beaufort (3), Calhoun (1), Charleston (4), Chesterfield (1), Colleton (1), Darlington (1), Dorchester (3), Florence (5), Greenville (1), Horry (2), Lancaster (1), Laurens (4), Lexington (2), Marion (1), Pickens (1), Richland (4), Spartanburg (2), Sumter (1) and York (1).
Are all cases accounted for?
State health officials estimate that up to 86% of South Carolinians who contract the virus don’t get tested. As of Wednesday, they estimated that 677,407 people in all have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
DHEC officials also investigate 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 Wednesday, officials reported 23 new probable cases of the coronavirus and five new probable deaths. In all, DHEC has identified 635 probable cases and 75 probable deaths.
How are hospitals being impacted?
Starting in late June, the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients has steadily increased.
The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized at one time peaked at more than 1,700 on July 23, and the state has seen small decreases in those daily numbers ever since. Some data since late July was unavailable, though, because DHEC is transitioning to a new tracking system, which would give more precise information about COVID-19-related hospital conditions.
Of the 1,469 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus, 363 are in intensive care and, of those, 270 are on ventilators, state health officials said Wednesday.
Only 311 of the state’s 1,437 total ICU beds are available. Across the state, 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 one or two weeks, according to media reports.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
South Carolina has seen more than 1,000 new cases reported nearly every day since June 24. New cases announced in the last five weeks accounted for nearly 68% of all cases since March. Last week, daily case counts ranged from 1,170 to 1,666. The week before, they fell between from 1,368 to 2,335.
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 20.7% 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, 804,195 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. Last week, he issued an order reopening 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 45 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported Monday dated as far back as July 10.
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 55 South Carolinians.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 2:09 PM with the headline "More than 1,100 test positive for COVID-19 in SC, 45 more die."
