SC reports 1,410 new COVID-19 cases, a weekly high, and 17 deaths Thursday
South Carolina on Thursday reported 1,410 new COVID-19 cases — the highest number of positive tests this week — and another 17 coronavirus-related deaths, as the state’s virus indicators continue trending up.
The COVID-19 deaths reported Thursday, 10 of which came from the Upstate, bring the weekly death toll to 77 and the yearly tally to 3,924, according to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control data.
Nearly 190,000 people statewide have tested positive for COVID-19 since March.
The number of tests performed and the percentage of those tests that came back positive both saw improvements Thursday. DHEC reported 9,729 tests — easily the most this week — and a 14.5% positivity rate.
The percent positive rate is down from 17% on Wednesday, but still slightly above the rate earlier this week.
Percent positive rates provide an idea of how widespread coronavirus infection is in a testing area, with higher numbers indicating there are likely more people infected with COVID-19 in the community who have not been tested and who may unwittingly spread the disease to others.
The World Health Organization earlier this year advised governments not to reopen until percent positive rates are at 5% or lower for at least 14 days.
DHEC urges anyone who is symptomatic or has been around someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to get tested themselves, and recommends routine monthly testing for anyone who is out and about in the community, even if they are asymptomatic.
To find a testing location near you, visit DHEC’s website at scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations.
Which counties were affected?
The Upstate continues to report more COVID-19 cases than any other region of the state.
Greenville County on Thursday again reported the most new positive tests in the state with 227, followed by Spartanburg with 149 new cases and Anderson, which was fifth overall in the state, with 76 cases.
Other counties that reported more than 75 cases Thursday were York (114), Richland (90) and Horry (77).
Cases in Richland have jumped rapidly this week, while cases in neighboring Lexington County, which reported 50 new cases Thursday, have remained steady.
Richland County has reported 19,315 total confirmed cases since March, while Lexington has had 10,650, according to DHEC.
Of the deaths confirmed Thursday, 12 were elderly individuals (65 and older) and five were middle-aged (35-64), according to DHEC. Three deaths each were reported in Spartanburg and Anderson counties; two each were reported in Greenville and Pickens counties; and a single death was reported in Charleston, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington and Richland counties.
Overall, 273 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Richland County, while the death toll is at 217 in Lexington County, according to DHEC.
Are all cases accounted for?
Across the country, health experts have said official case counts have likely under-counted the number of cases to large degrees. At one point, South Carolina officials estimated that 86% of those infected never got tested or diagnosed, but they no longer provide those estimates.
DHEC has also been recording probable cases and probable deaths. A probable case is someone who has not received a lab test result 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 Thursday, DHEC reported 82 new probable COVID-19 cases and two new probable deaths, bringing the total number of probable cases and probable deaths statewide to 11,909 and 277, respectively.
How are hospitals being impacted?
DHEC reported Thursday that 815 patients were hospitalized with coronavirus-related symptoms, or 9% of all patients currently in the hospital. That’s 15 fewer than were hospitalized Wednesday, but well above the 769 who started the week in hospitals.
Of the 11,152 hospital beds available in South Carolina, 9,092 are currently occupied, or 81.5%, health officials said.
The number of coronavirus patients in intensive care units dropped to 203 on Thursday, the lowest number this week, while those ventilated crept up slightly to 108.
Hospital bed occupancy rates hit weekly highs in both Richland and Lexington counties Thursday, where 78.3% and 91.2% of beds are occupied, respectively, according to DHEC.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
Several of key COVID-19 metrics the state tracks to measure spread remain below the highs hit in July, but some are trending up, especially in the Upstate, health officials warn. Indicators such as daily case rates by population, percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations have all risen since the start of September. And while they have not reached July’s peaks, they are still at a rate that indicates continued disease spread.
The rates of testing, meanwhile, have declined from the highs reported in the middle of the summer, when DHEC was recording more than 10,000 tests per day, and plateaued throughout the fall. The rate of testing has inched upwards recently, however. Overall, 2,421,169 tests have been conducted in South Carolina.
This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 2:51 PM.