York, Chester counties have biggest jumps in coronavirus cases as SC total tops 6,000
York and Chester counties reported their largest daily increase in coronavirus cases Thursday, South Carolina health officials announced.
Thirteen new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, were confirmed in York County. Three cases were reported in Chester County, ending its six-day streak of reporting zero new cases, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Lancaster County also reported three new cases Thursday, bringing its total to 96, according to DHEC.
DHEC reported 220 new cases of COVID-19 across the state for a total of 6,095 positive tests in all 46 counties.
There now have been 210 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in York County since the pandemic started, according to DHEC. Chester County has had 30 cases, according to DHEC.
In addition to the new cases, the agency announced that 12 other individuals have died in Anderson, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Florence, Greenville, Lexington and Richland counties. Nine of the recent deaths involved elderly individuals and three involved middle-aged individuals, according to DHEC.
DHEC announced Wednesday the agency cross analyzed death certificates and identified 29 additional coronavirus-related deaths that had not been previously reported.
Based on DHEC’s count, there now have been 244 coronavirus-related deaths in South Carolina. Four residents in Lancaster County and three residents in York County have died after contracting the virus. Chester County has not reported any deaths.
York County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey, a longtime advocate of the stay at home method for public health during the pandemic, said the 13 new cases announced Thursday show the public must remain vigilant to combat the spread of the disease. Just a day before, Roddey had again urged the public not to rush back into large gatherings that could lead to more cases.
“We have to realize that staying at home whenever possible is the key to handling this,” Roddey said.
Chuck Haynes, York County Emergency Management Director, said the high number of cases is a reminder that the public needs to remain committed to staying safe. Social distancing and hand washing are crucial, Haynes said.
“It is tough for people to be told again and again to stay home whenever possible,” Haynes said. “But that’s the best deterrent. If you don’t have to go out — don’t.”
Shane Stuart, Chester County Supervisor and another advocate for staying at home, said the three new cases in Chester County mark the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began.
Stuart said social distancing, and only making essential trips away from home, are crucial for community health and safety.
More than 56,000 coronavirus tests had been completed by DHEC’s public lab and private labs as of Thursday, and roughly 11% of tests have come back positive, according to the agency. DHEC projected Tuesday that about 76% of those diagnosed with the virus have recovered.
Hospitals across the state are at about 60% capacity. Thursday, DHEC officials said of the nearly 7,000 used beds across the state, 307 beds are occupied by patients with known or suspected cases of the virus.
Based on new projections released Thursday, there are likely many unreported cases in the area. DHEC calculated that there are up to 1,290 unidentified cases in York County. The agency estimated Lancaster County has as many as 590 unidentified cases, and Chester County has up to 184 unidentified cases.
According to its website, DHEC calculates the projected cases based on evidence that for every known case, there could be up to nine unidentified people with the virus.
Confirmed cases by ZIP codes
As of Wednesday night, there are cases in the following York County ZIP codes:
- 29704 - 2
- 29708 - 23
- 29710 - 33
- 29715 - 34
- 29717 - 2
- 29730 - 44
- 29732 - 57
- 29745 - 11
There are cases in the following Lancaster County ZIP codes:
- 29058 - 4
- 29067 - 8
- 29707 - 21
- 29720 - 70
There are cases in the following Chester County ZIP codes:
- 29014 - 2
- 29055 - 5
- 29706 - 14
- 29712 - 1
- 29714 - 6
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:39 PM.
