New coronavirus cases reported in York, Chester, Lancaster County. SC total now 1,700
The number of coronavirus cases in York, Chester and Lancaster County increased again Friday, reports the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Health officials reported 147 new cases in the state, bringing the total to 1,700 spread across all 46 counties.
York County has 7 new cases, bringing the total to 73, according to DHEC. Chester County had one new case reported, now 7 total, and Lancaster County’s total increased by five cases to 31.
Three new deaths were reported Friday, two people were residents of Richland County and one person lived in Greenville County, according to DHEC. The individuals were elderly with underlying health conditions.
In South Carolina, 34 people have died related to COVID-19, DHEC reports.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday directed DHEC to release case information by zip code, reports The State newspaper. The agency also plans to release projected numbers reflecting potential positive cases -- those who have not been tested but may have been exposed -- in each zip code.
The latest zip code information from DHEC is from Wednesday.
York County had COVID-19 cases in the following zip codes: 29708, 29710, 29715, 29730, 29732 and 29745, according to DHEC.
Six of Chester County’s cases are in zip codes 29055, 29706, 29712 and 29714, according to DHEC. Twenty-five of Lancaster County’s cases are in zip codes 29058, 29067, 29707 and 29720, The Herald previously reported.
Michael Johnson, York County Council chairman, said the new zip code information and increased information available to first responders are positive steps toward public awareness of where cases are both confirmed and suspected.
York County leaders had been pushing for that information, and other details. Still, the information is beneficial to the public and shows progress, Johnson said.
“We are thankful that Gov. McMaster has given us greater insight as to where the citizens who are affected live,” Johnson said. ”I am also encouraged that DHEC is actively working with law enforcement to give us the ability to determine who is infected before someone enters a residence.”
Chuck Haynes, York County Emergency Management Director, said emergency officials, law enforcement and other first responders, and now the public, will know zip code locations, Haynes said.
“This will show both positive tests, and more data of zip codes where there are suspected cases and testing is being done,” Haynes said.
However, even with the DHEC’s release of zip code information, it is unclear what benefit the new information will give people, area officials said.
Many of those same top officials have been asking for specific address information of positive cases so first responders can know if an address has possible cases of infection.
Zip codes can have an average of 7,400 people in them, said Shane Stuart, Chester County supervisor.
“Sadly, that information is useless to us,” Stuart said of the new zip code requirements.
Darren Player, Lancaster County emergency management director, cautioned that zip code information could include estimates of people possibly infected and untested in that zip code.
Top county and emergency officials in York, Chester and Lancaster counties still are urging state leaders to release specific address data for first responder use only.
“What we wish for still is release of specific address data to us,” Player said. “Anybody at that particular address could have had contact with a positive case.”
