This is why York County reported its highest number yet of coronavirus cases Tuesday
York County’s highest spike in coronavirus cases Tuesday is likely a result of increased testing for the virus across the state, local officials said.
The county reported 15 additional COVID-19 cases — the highest number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in York County in a single day since the pandemic started. In total, there have been 258 positive coronavirus tests in the county.
Chuck Haynes, York County Emergency Management Director, said the highest number of daily cases Tuesday was the result of increased testing and results from private lab tests.
Haynes said the 15 positive cases is significant, but the public should not be alarmed.
“It was the highest in one day, and that does matter, but we do not see one day’s results as meaning that the virus is getting worse,” Haynes said.
The county looks at test results over seven-day periods to determine trends, Haynes said.
Seven-day windows over the past month have shown a general trend of positive cases being reported, but no trend of cases being worse week to week, Haynes said.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control is planning to nearly double the amount of testing by the end of May, with a goal of testing 2% of the state’s population, or 110,000 people, in each of the next two months. So far, about 1.7% of the state’s residents have been tested.
“We’re currently on track to meet this target by the end of the month,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said at a press conference on Monday.
York County Council member Joel Hamilton said it is possible positive test results could spike because more people are being tested now than earlier in the pandemic. Hamilton, like other officials, was concerned about the highest number of cases for York County.
York County Council member William “Bump” Roddey said that county officials learned late Tuesday that the spike in York County cases likely was a result of increased testing that state officials are doing.
Roddey, who has pushed for weeks for people to stay at home if at all possible during the pandemic, reiterated that the high number of positive tests shows that people need to continue to follow safety guidelines and avoid any unnecessary trips or public contact.
Additionally, DHEC officials have started the first round of its goal to test every resident and staff member in all South Carolina nursing homes, which will include about 40,000 people. Part of the DHEC program also is to expand testing in minority communities and rural areas in the state.
Labs across the state have completed a total of 93,140 tests as of Wednesday morning. In all, about 9% of tests have been positive. In total, there have been 7,927 positive coronavirus tests across all 46 South Carolina counties, according to DHEC.
“As we’ve said before, the virus has been — since some time in March — has been chasing us, but now, we’re chasing the virus,” Gov. Henry McMaster said Monday. “We are developing and implementing an army of people who will not only be conducting testing all around the state but also tracking the virus.”
York County’s spike in cases comes as the state has started to reopen.
McMaster lifted restrictions Monday on close-contact businesses, including hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, gyms and pools. The businesses will be allowed to reopen May 18.
Restaurants were allowed to open for limited dine-in services Monday this week. The governor has also lifted restrictions on boating, beaches and visitors to the state. He also lifted his mandatory home-or-work order.
“South Carolina, when the virus came, we did not shut down like some other states did,” McMaster said. “But we did slow down. And so now, we are accelerating back up and we hope to be at full speed just as quickly as possible but also as safely as possible.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 11:56 AM.
