DHEC: SC doesn’t go two weeks without 1,000 new virus cases as infections increase
South Carolina went 13 days with new daily cases of coronavirus numbering fewer than 1,000.
That streak ended with Saturday when the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 1,250 new coronavirus cases.
DHEC also confirmed 42 new deaths in its Saturday release but only listed 36 deaths in its county-by-county breakdown.
Since the global coronavirus pandemic reached the state in March, the agency has recorded 15,661 confirmed cases and 2,563 confirmed deaths.
The percent of positive tests announced on Saturday also climbed to 20.5%, the second time in a week that it’s been more than 20%.
The World Health Organization suggests 5% should be the standard before countries consider reopening, and DHEC state Epidemiologist Linda Bell cited the same percentage as a goal.
Which counties were affected?
Charleston County had the most new cases announced Saturday with 215.
In the Midlands, Richland County had 190 and Lexington County had 63.
The new cases are sharp increases from the past week.
Residents of the following counties died after contracting the virus: Anderson (4), Berkeley (1) Charleston (2), Darlington (1), Dorchester (1), Edgefield (1), Greenville (1), Greenwood (7), Horry (3), Lancaster (3), Lee (1), Lexington (2), Orangeburg (2), Pickens (1), Richland (1), Saluda (1), Spartanburg (4)
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
The number of daily new cases reported in South Carolina hit a high of 2,343 on July 18.
In the month since, totals have slowly dropped. Three weeks ago, case counts ranged from just above 1,000 to more than 1,300. DHEC reported daily figures of new cases of under 1,000 for 13 days until Saturday.
State health officials said Tuesday that the virus’ progression has been slowing significantly in areas with face mask requirements and where residents are practicing social distancing.
However, the drop in case numbers can also be attributed in part to labs performing fewer tests, DHEC officials have said. In order to account for that possibility, officials have highlighted the importance of percentage of tests run that come back positive.
On Wednesday, 20.4% of tests reported were positive, the first time that percentage has passed 20% in two weeks.
On Saturday, the positive percent was a tick higher at 20.5%, DHEC said.
In May, at its lowest point, the percentage of positive tests fell between 2% and 4% on average, while it peaked in July at consistently upward of 20%.
The percentage of COVID-19 tests with positive results has ticked down week over week since mid-July, but it is still above the 5% standard DHEC has said it would like to see.
“Our goal has always been to see a consistent downward trend that persisted for at least 14 days at a very low level with a percent positive that is ... ideally, less than 5%. And so if we were to achieve that goal of sustained disease activity suppression for at least two weeks, that would have widespread implications for a confidence that we could resume certain activities that are being evaluated now,” Bell told reporters during a conference call Friday.
Nationally, about 9.1% of tests turn up positive, according to the CDC.
In all, 999,070 tests have been completed in South Carolina since March.
Are all cases accounted for?
State health officials estimate that around 86% of South Carolinians who contract the virus don’t get tested.
DHEC has also been recording 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, state health officials reported 34 new probable cases and three new probable deaths. That brings the total number of probable cases up to 1,588 and total probable deaths to 135.
DHEC officials have said the recent slowdown in testing could mean that more people with the coronavirus have gone untested and undiagnosed.
How are hospitals being impacted?
As of Saturday, the state reported 945 patients in South Carolina hospitals have coronavirus, including 245 patients in intensive care and 145 patients on ventilators.
In all, 81.5% of in-patient beds are occupied in S.C. hospitals, including 75% of beds in intensive care units.
The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized at one time peaked at more than 1,700 on July 23, and the daily numbers have declined since.
Some data since late July was unavailable as DHEC transitioned its reporting system from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Department of Health and Human Services, as requested by the federal government. The agency said the new system will give more precise information about COVID-19-related hospital conditions.
This story was originally published August 29, 2020 at 1:11 PM.