12 more coronavirus cases reported in York County, total exceeds 300, officials say
York County now has had more than 300 reported cases of the coronavirus, state and local officials confirmed Monday.
Twelve new cases of coronavirus were reported Monday in York County, for a total of 304, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Lancaster and Chester counties reported zero new cases, according to DHEC. Since the pandemic started, Lancaster County has had 111 cases of the virus and Chester County has had 42 cases.
The agency also identified 126 new cases of COVID-19 across the state Monday, for a total of 8,942 cases in all 46 counties.
DHEC has implemented a plan to nearly double the amount of statewide testing in May, by testing 2% of the state’s population, or 110,000 people, in each of the next two months, agency officials said. So far, about 1.7% of the population has been tested.
As a result of the increased testing, York County’s reported number of cases have increased, county officials said.
On Tuesday, the county had 15 new coronavirus cases, which was the highest single-day total reported in the county since the pandemic began, according to official state numbers.
“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,” York County Emergency Management Director Chuck Haynes said last week.
More restrictions lifted
Gov. Henry McMaster has recently lifted restrictions on different businesses, including retailers, beaches, boating, and restaurants. Gyms, salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors and other close contact businesses were allowed to reopen Monday.
Gold’s Gym in Rock Hill had a good amount of traffic Monday, sales manager Caleb Griffin said. The gym had about 25 visitors every hour, Griffin said.
“Today was our first day being reopened,” he said. “We are still taking very precautious measures. So, kids’ care will not be open. The smoothie bar will not be open and neither will the tanning beds. We also have none of the group classes going on right now.”
Deaths
DHEC also announced that six more individuals have died across the state. Based on the agency’s count, there now have been 391 coronavirus-related deaths in South Carolina.
Last week, York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said her office has confirmed eight residents died after testing positive for COVID-19. As of Monday, DHEC had reported five coronavirus-related deaths in York County.
Lancaster County has reported five coronavirus-related deaths, and Chester County has not reported any deaths, according to DHEC.
COVID-19 test results
As of Monday, labs across the state have completed more than 131,559 tests and in all, about 7% of tests have come back positive. Friday, DHEC projected that about 84% of those diagnosed with the virus have recovered.
Western York County will open its first on-site coronavirus testing site Friday at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, officials said.
The testing is free and no insurance or appointment is necessary, York City Council member Steve Love said. York city and civic leaders urge anyone who should be tested or wants to be tested to take advantage of the service, Love said.
Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill also does COVID-19 testing. Affinity Health Care in Rock Hill offers drive-through testing.
North Central Family Medical Center in Rock Hill tests symptomatic patients and is planning to offer drive-through testing by appointment.
Projected cases
Hospitals across the state are at about 63% capacity. Monday, DHEC officials said, of the 6,481 beds currently used across the state, 412 beds are occupied by patients with known or suspected cases of the virus.
This week, DHEC officials have anticipated about 1,000 new coronavirus cases. Based on DHEC projections, the weekly number of cases will likely drop to about 900 by the end of May and officials expect a total of 10,493 cases reported in the state by that time.
DHEC calculated that there are up to 1,867 unidentified cases in York County based on projections released Monday The agency estimated Lancaster County has as many as 682 unidentified cases, and Chester County has up to 258 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.
Coronavirus cases by ZIP code
As of Sunday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
- 29704 - 2
- 29708 - 30
- 29710 - 41
- 29715 - 39
- 29717 - 2
- 29730 - 65
- 29732 - 101
- 29745 - 17
Lancaster County
- 29058 - 4
- 29067 - 12
- 29707 - 28
- 29720 - 75
Chester County
- 29014 - 2
- 29055 - 7
- 29706 - 20
- 29712 - 1
- 29714 - 7
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 5:17 PM.
