York County has 10 new coronavirus cases reported as total climbs above 60, DHEC says
Ten more cases of the coronavirus were reported Wednesday in York County, according to South Carolina health officials. Two new cases were reported in Lancaster County and one was reported in Chester County.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 210 new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, across the state, for a total of 1,293 cases in 43 counties.
Now, there are 66 cases in York County. Lancaster County has 17 cases and Chester County has three, according to DHEC.
On Tuesday, state officials announced a York County resident died after contracting the virus. DHEC announced Wednesday that four more people across South Carolina had died. In all, there have been 26 deaths in the state from the virus.
DHEC released information Friday on ZIP codes with positive cases to county officials and to the public. The ZIP codes were updated Wednesday afternoon. But York County leaders continue to push DHEC officials for more specifics about positive coronavirus cases.
DHEC so far has released only general county information on cases, yet first responders still are are asking for address information and other details, including if anyone in the home has been exposed to the COVID-19 disease.
Several top officials, including sheriffs in York, Lancaster and Chester counties, have expressed concerns that exposure of first responders could threaten officer and public safety, and cause a depletion in the ranks of officers if deputies get sick.
“DHEC’s refusal to release this critical information to first responders is frustrating and baffling,” said York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement.
Tolson said that DHEC has the information and it could be given to first responders.
“First responders need all available information so that they can better protect themselves and in turn, protect the communities that they serve,” Tolson said. “ We are in a crisis. We all need to work together to battle this threat.”
As of Tuesday night, there were 65 COVID-19 cases in the following York County ZIP codes:
- 29707
- 29708
- 29710
- 29715
- 29730
- 29732
- 29745
Chester County’s three cases are in ZIP codes 29706 and 29712, according to DHEC. Sixteen of Lancaster County’s cases are in ZIP codes 29058, 29067, 29706, 29707 and 29720.
