SC approaches 100,000 COVID-19 cases despite fewest new positive tests in a month
Sunday marked one of South Carolina’s lowest days of new COVID-19 cases in months.
State health officials reported 1,011 new confirmed cases as South Carolina closes in on 100,000 cases since the testing began in March. The total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in South Carolina rose to 99,713.
Sunday’s total was the third time the state’s daily case count was less than 1,150 in the past seven days. South Carolina hasn’t had less than 1,000 cases since July 7, when 937 new cases were reported by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
State health officials also reported 18 more coronavirus-related deaths Sunday, bringing the total to 1,949.
As of Sunday morning 12 states have more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the Center for Disease Control. California has the most with 538,416.
More than 5 million COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., with California, Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia making up more than 40% of the country’s infections.
Which counties were affected?
Charleston County saw the largest increase in confirmed cases with 105, according to DHEC.
In Richland County, 82 more people were diagnosed with the virus, while health officials confirmed 42 new cases of the coronavirus in Lexington County.
Health officials said 12 of the confirmed deaths occurred in elderly individuals (65 or older) with two each from Florence, Greenville and Lee counties, and single deaths reported from Anderson, Beaufort, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens and Newberry counties.
There were two deaths of middle-age people (35-64 years old) in Horry County and one each in Calhoun, Richland, Lancaster and Sumter counties.
Are all cases accounted for?
State health officials estimate up to 86% of South Carolina residents who contract the virus have not been tested. As of Sunday, DHEC estimated 712,236 people in all have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
On Sunday, state health officials reported they were investigating seven new probable cases and seven new probable deaths. In all, DHEC has identified 722 probable cases and 82 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.
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 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.
On Sunday, state health officials said 1,378 people are hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases. Of those, 219 patients are on ventilators, according to DHEC.
Across the state, about 78% of hospital beds are in use, according to DHEC.
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.
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 1,163 to 1,422. DHEC projects 9,334 new cases from Aug. 9-15.
On Sunday about 12.9% percent of tests reported were positive, higher than what health officials saw in March and early April, but lower for the past few weeks. In May, at its lowest point, the percentage of positive tests fell between 2% and 4% on average.
The latest seven-day moving average in SC is 13.4 percent, according to John Hopkins coronavirus resource center.
Nationally, about 8.7% of tests turn up positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In all, 843,241 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. 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.
This story was originally published August 9, 2020 at 12:36 PM.
