SC reports 1,297 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, as hospitalizations hit 3-month high
State public health officials reported 1,297 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths Tuesday, as the number of patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus in South Carolina hit a three-month high.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has now reported at least 1,000 new positive tests daily for the past two weeks.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has increased 23% statewide over that period, reaching 980 Tuesday, DHEC reported. South Carolina has not reported that many COVID-19 inpatients on a single day since Aug. 27.
More than 205,000 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since March and 4,091 have died, DHEC said.
Nearly 18% of the 7,375 tests reported Tuesday came back positive, according to public health officials.
Percent positive rates provide an idea of how widespread coronavirus infections are 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 were at 5% or lower for at least 14 days.
DHEC urges anyone who is symptomatic or who has been exposed to someone with 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 number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Upstate continues to outpace other South Carolina regions.
Greenville County reported the most new positive tests in the state Tuesday with 237, followed by Spartanburg (125, second in state), Anderson (79, tied for third in state) and Pickens (73, fifth in state).
COVID-19 cases in the Midlands are below the Upstate’s numbers, but have risen rapidly in recent weeks with York (121), Richland (79) and Lexington (61) counties reporting the second, third and seventh highest number of positive tests in the state Tuesday.
Horry, which reported 64 confirmed cases Tuesday, is the only other county that reported at least 60 new cases Tuesday.
Of the 13 deaths confirmed Tuesday, nine were elderly individuals (65 and older), two were middle-aged (35-64) and one was a young adult (18-34) who died Friday in Pickens County, according to DHEC.
Three of the deaths were in Spartanburg County; two each were in Anderson, Greenville and Pickens counties; and one death each was in Berkeley, Cherokee, Oconee and York counties.
How are hospitals being impacted?
DHEC reported 980 people in South Carolina were hospitalized for the coronavirus Tuesday, the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in more than three months.
The last time this many COVID-19 patients were hospitalized was Aug. 27, when 1,006 patients occupied hospital beds statewide. COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked at 1,723 on July 23.
Coronavirus patients made up 11.7% of all reported inpatients in South Carolina Tuesday, the 11th straight day the proportion of coronavirus patients has remained stable or increased, according to DHEC.
More than 20% of COVID-19 patients, or 201 people, are in intensive care units, and 8.6%, or 84 patients, are on ventilators.
Despite the rise in COVID-19 patients, hospital bed occupancy and ICU bed occupancy remain below 80%, with 75.9% of the state’s hospital beds and 76.4% of its ICU beds occupied.
In Richland County, 67% of hospital beds are occupied Tuesday, and in Lexington County, 92% of beds are full, data show.
How is COVID-19 trending in SC?
A couple key COVID-19 metrics the state tracks to measure spread remain below the highs hit in July, but are trending up, health officials warn.
Indicators such as daily case rates by population and hospitalizations both have risen since mid-October.
The rate of testing has increased steadily over the past month, with an average of 172 tests per 100,000 individuals being performed daily over the past 30 days, a 27% increase from the month prior. Despite the increase in testing, the percent positive rate has remained steady at about 14% since the beginning of November.
Overall, more than 2.7 million tests have been conducted in South Carolina.
This story was originally published December 1, 2020 at 1:40 PM with the headline "SC reports 1,297 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, as hospitalizations hit 3-month high."