Coronavirus: Lancaster County adds new case. DHEC releases cases by zip code.
Lancaster County has one new case of COVID-19, health officials said Friday. No new cases were reported in York or Chester counties.
South Carolina health officials were investigating 86 new coronavirus cases as of Friday. That brought the total in the state to 539 in 39 counties, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
York County has 18 positive cases, Chester County has 1 and Lancaster County 8, reports DHEC.
Cases are reported to DHEC based on the county the person lives in.
Thirteen people have died in the state from the virus, an increase of four people as of Friday, reports DHEC. The patients, from Richland, Kershaw, Greenville and Florence counties, were elderly with underlying health conditions.
“It’s never easy to have to report the deaths of members of our communities,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC physician, said in a prepared statement. “We express our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of these patients.”
DHEC had not been publicly releasing detailed information on cases, such as where patients live within their county, how they contracted the virus or if they have been hospitalized.
However, the department has informed officials Friday that it will send counties information about specific zip codes for positive cases, along with other demographic information including the age of the patient.
Positive cases by zip code
The release of zip code information that began Friday helps the public see generally where cases are, so the public has more information on areas that are affected, said Chuck Haynes, York County Emergency Management Director.
Zip code information for York County positive cases shows that 12 of 18 in York County are in the northern York County areas that include areas near Fort Mill and Tega Cay, reports DHEC.
According to DHEC, the breakdown as of Friday in York County is:
- 29707 - 2 cases
- 29708 - 2 cases
- 29715 - 8 cases
- 29730 - 3 cases
- 29732 - 1 case
Two cases in York County do not have zip code information, according to DHEC.
Haynes said it is not clear that higher numbers in northern York County are caused by the proximity to Charlotte and North Carolina where there are more than 100 cases in Mecklenburg County.
It is unclear if the positive cases had work, social or other contacts where the coronavirus contagion caused a positive test, Haynes said.
York County has at least 54,000 residents who commute out of county for work, according to statistics from the York County Economic Development office.
Mecklenburg County as of Friday had 259 positive cases, according to the Charlotte Observer. Mecklenburg County also issued a stay at home order that bans some travel, including for work in many vocations.
“What we want to stress is that it is not the time to become complacent, and we ask that everyone still adhere to the social distancing, hygiene, and other guidelines,” Haynes said.
Zip code details will help emergency officials zero in closer toward where cases are, said Darren Player, Lancaster County Emergency Management Director.
“The zip codes show for Lancaster County, we have cases in all four quadrants of our county,” Player said. “These are known cases. And that means if there was a case in an area, there is a possibility of unknown cases there, too. If any zip code were to spike, then we would know there is a possibility of a hot spot.”
The Lancaster County cases so far are broken down as three for zip code 29720, with one each in 29067, 29646, and 29707, according to Player and DHEC figures.
Zip code information for the one new case on Friday in Lancaster County was not yet available, Player said.
Player said emergency stockpile deliveries from the federal government of masks, gowns, and other materials to Lancaster County have been sent to the MUSC hospital in Lancaster and to Lancaster County EMS for use by staff during patient care and calls.
Chester County Supervisor Shane Stuart said county officials are encouraged that no new cases were reported Friday. The county’s single positive case patient has returned home after receiving medical care, Stuart said.
All county workers who assist that patient are using personal protective equipment (PPE) each time there is contact with that patient at home, Stuart said.
Chester County’s sole case is in zip code 29706, DHEC statistics show.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
