Coronavirus spread is slowing in SC, health officials say as 1,265 more test positive
South Carolina health officials said Friday that the coronavirus’ spread is slowing down in the state, after they announced 1,265 more people tested positive, bringing the total number of Palmetto State residents diagnosed with the virus up to 97,554.
That assessment of how COVID-19 is trending in South Carolina stems from case numbers that have been falling recently, health officials said, noting that the percent of tests that are coming back positive also is falling day to day.
Department of Health and Environmental Control officials also reported that 21 more South Carolinians died after contracting COVID-19.
In all, 1,883 people diagnosed with the virus across the state have died since March.
The state is likely just days away from two major milestones: surpassing 2,000 people who have died from confirmed COVID-19 infections and 100,000 people who’ve tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Seeing our cases continue to trend down should be a message to us all that the precautions taken ... are taking us closer to the finish line,” DHEC’s Dr. Brannon Traxler said during a conference call with reporters.
About 2 million South Carolinians are living under some sort of mask requirement, something that likely helped slow the tide of the coronavirus, she said.
“As a state health agency, we’re strongly in favor of these local initiatives,” Traxler said.
Despite the progress, Traxler encouraged Palmetto State residents to continue to practice social distancing, wear masks and avoid large group gatherings.
“Going forward, we need to keep doing the things that we know work,” Traxler said.
Which counties were affected?
Richland County saw the largest increase in confirmed coronavirus cases Friday with 115. Neighboring Lexington County saw 41.
The following counties saw residents die after contracting COVID-19: Aiken (1), Anderson (3), Beaufort (1), Berkeley (1), Dorchester (2), Florence (1), Greenville (3), Greenwood (1), Horry (1), Jasper (1), Oconee (1), Pickens (1), Spartanburg (1), Sumter (1), Union (1) and Williamsburg (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 Friday, they estimated that 696,800 people in all have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
DHEC officials have also reported 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 Friday, state health officials reported five new probable deaths and 10 new probable cases. In all, they are investigating 708 probable cases and 79 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 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 1,415 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus, 231 are on ventilators, state health officials said Friday.
Only 2,614 of the state’s 11,094 total hospital beds are available. Across the state, 76% of 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?
While DHEC officials say they are starting to see coronavirus cases drop off, the daily number announced Friday still follows a trend since late June of more than 1,000 new cases reported nearly every day.
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 declined slightly over the last few weeks, falling from an average of about 20% each day to about 18%.
On Friday, 18.3% of tests reported were positive, higher than what health officials saw in March and early April. However, 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. The World Health Organization recommends that states wait to reopen until the percent positive of tests remain at 5% for 14 consecutive days.
In all, 824,500 tests have been completed since March.
Why did case numbers skyrocket this summer?
DHEC officials say case counts surged because more people left their homes as businesses reopen. Fewer people practiced social distancing and wore masks, they said.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has gradually reopened businesses since April 20, including restaurants, retailers, beaches, gyms and salons. In late July, 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. DHEC applauded those officials Friday.
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 21 confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported Friday dated as far back as July 22.
Regardless, the state has seen an increase in deaths starting in late June. Changes in the number of deaths tend to lag behind changes in the number of cases, DHEC’s Traxler said. So, if cases begin to decrease, it will be a few weeks before deaths follow suit.
On its deadliest day, around July 20, the coronavirus took the lives of 54 South Carolinians.
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Coronavirus spread is slowing in SC, health officials say as 1,265 more test positive."
