If SC stops social distancing, coronavirus cases could rebound, DHEC warns
After nearly two months of combating the spread of coronavirus, South Carolina has plateaued and should see the number of cases begin to drop off — but only if South Carolinians continue to keep their distance from one another.
That was the message Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, gave to a meeting of the Midlands Coronavirus Task Force on Thursday.
“We are at the plateau, but we are not on a downward trend, and we want to see a downward trend,” Bell said. As the state’s economy now begins to reopen, “I cannot emphasize enough that we have to maintain social distancing.”
That’s particularly important in the Midlands, where Richland County has been hit with the largest number of cases in the state, especially in the African-American community. Bell said Richland ranks fifth statewide in the per capita rate of cases, at 174 per 100,000 residents. As of Tuesday, 15 people have died of COVID-19 in Richland County, also the highest in the state.
Next door, Lexington County has also seen a high share of cases, at almost 96 per 100,000 and nine deaths, Bell said.
In the past week, South Carolina reported an average of 162 new covid cases per day, a slight drop from 180 infections per day during the first week in April. The Department of Health and Environmental Control currently projects a drop to 100 cases per day by April 26 and to 50 cases by May 5.
But that depends on current levels of social distancing being maintained, and the degree of testing available, Bell told the remote meeting of local leaders, the medical community and nonprofits.
Keeping distant may be difficult as residents start to chafe against social restrictions. On Friday, protesters plan to descend on the S.C. State House for a drive-by protest against social distancing restrictions, imitating similar protests in state capitals across the country.
Gov. Henry McMaster has allowed several retail outlets to reopen, including florists, jewelry and bookstores. Public beaches have also reopened to the public in some parts of the state, and state parks will reopen with some restrictions starting on May 1.
Some populations are suffering the most from the pandemic. African Americans make up 42% of cases and 57% of deaths, despite making up about 26% of the state population, Bell said.
Elderly populations are also at risk. Patients between the ages of 70 and 80 make up just 10% of reported COVID-19 cases, but make up the largest percentage of coronavirus-related deaths, at 36%.
Prisma Health CEO Mark O’Halla said the health system has actually bucked the national trend. Twenty-nine percent of white Midlands patients admitted for COVID-19 die, compared to 23% of black patients, O’Halla said, even though black patients make up a higher percentage of coronavirus admissions. Forty-three percent of black people diagnosed with COVID-19 need to be hospitalized, versus 31% of white patients.
Prisma’s Dr. Scott Sasser told the task force the system will soon begin antibody testing to determine who may have developed immunity for the disease. O’Halla said Prisma Health will also be looking to increase testing for the disease in rural areas as well.
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