6 more positive for coronavirus in York County and 3 in Chester County, officials say
Six more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in York County Tuesday, South Carolina health officials said.
The county, which now has had 352 COVID-19 cases confirmed since the pandemic started, opened its first free testing site Friday. The number of cases is expected to increase as the site will be open every Friday for the next four weeks, York officials said.
On Friday, 342 tests were administered, said Seth Duncan, York city manager. People who test positive will likely be notified within one to three days of the test, and people with negative results will be notified within one to seven days, Duncan said.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control also identified 253 new cases of COVID-19 across the state Tuesday, for a total of 10,416 cases in all 46 counties. Lancaster County added one new case, for a total of 122 coronavirus cases, according to DHEC.
York County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey said the continued number of positive coronavirus tests in York County shows the continued need for testing, social distancing, wearing masks in public, and other hygiene and safety recommendations that South Carolina and CDC officials have called for.
“People can be asymptomatic, not have symptoms, then find out they have it,” Roddey said. “That’s where social distancing and masks really make a difference, as it protects others.”
Roddey said York County Council will return to meeting publicly in council chambers on June 1. There will be social distancing and limited seating at the meeting, Roddey said.
Roddey said he wants to be tested, and will encourage the other six members of the York County Council and county staff who are involved in the public meeting to be tested for COVID-19 as well.
“To me that would be leading by example,” Roddey said.
Chester County, which will open its first free coronavirus testing site Wednesday, reported three new cases Tuesday, according to DHEC. The county now has had 55 cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic.
Chester City Council member Angela Douglas said she hopes the public takes advantage of the free testing.
“This is an important opportunity for people who need to get tested to have that test done,” Douglas said.
COVID-19 deaths
In addition to the confirmed cases, DHEC also announced that six more individuals have died across the state. Based on the agency’s count, there now have been 446 coronavirus-related deaths in South Carolina.
Lancaster County has reported five coronavirus-related deaths, and Chester County has not reported any deaths, according to DHEC.
As of Tuesday, DHEC has reported six coronavirus-related deaths in York County. However, York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said her office has confirmed eight residents died after testing positive for COVID-19.
All eight residents who died from complications after testing positive for COVID-19 were older and had other health ailments, Gast said.
Testing
As of Tuesday, labs across the state have completed more than 178,119 tests, and in all about 6% of tests have come back positive.
DHEC has been working to expand statewide coronavirus testing in both May and June. State health officials are attempting to test about 2% of the state’s population, or 110,000 people, in the next two months. DHEC officials said Tuesday the agency has reached that goal, completing more than 110,000 tests in May.
Local coronavirus testing efforts have expanded as well.
Western York County’s free coronavirus testing site at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church will be open every Friday for the next four weeks, Seth Duncan, York city manager, said. Testing is available at the church at 302 California Street in York from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment or referral is needed, Duncan said.
Chester County will opens its free coronavirus testing site for residents Wednesday, officials said. Testing will be done at the Back Lot at 139 Cadz Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 27 and 29, and again on June 3 and 5, according to a statement from the Medical University of South Carolina.
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.
Case projections
This week, DHEC officials have anticipated more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases. Based on DHEC projections, the weekly number of cases will remain around 1,000 by the beginning of June and officials expect a total of 11,890 cases reported in the state by that time.
DHEC officials have estimated that as many as 86% of people who have contracted COVID-19 have not been tested or diagnosed.
The agency calculated that there are up to 2,162 unidentified cases in York County based on projections released Tuesday. The agency estimated Lancaster County has as many as 749 unidentified cases, and Chester County has up to 338 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 Monday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
- 29704 - 4
- 29708 - 38
- 29710 - 45
- 29715 - 48
- 29717 - 2
- 29730 - 69
- 29732 - 115
- 29745 - 22
Lancaster County
- 29058 - 5
- 29067 - 12
- 29707 - 28
- 29720 - 86
Chester County
- 29014 - 3
- 29055 - 16
- 29706 - 21
- 29712 - 2
- 29714 - 8
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
