‘Stay home’: Officials urge caution as York County again adds 20-plus COVID-19 cases
York County reported 22 new positive coronavirus cases Friday, marking the seventh straight day of more than 20, according to state health officials.
Chester County Friday logged one new case and Lancaster County added two, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
S.C. health officials Friday reported 770 new cases and five new deaths in the state. That brings the total to 17,170 cases and 593 deaths.
The deaths were in elderly individuals from Aiken, Charleston, Lexington, Orangeburg and Richland counties.
The high number over a week does concern local officials, said Chuck Haynes, emergency management director for York County.
“We know that increased testing is finding more cases, but we are waiting for data from DHEC to determine if the increase of cases is from testing increases, a spread of the virus, or both,” Haynes said.
Haynes reiterated what Gov. Henry Mcmaster and DHEC officials have said about asking the public to return to social distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding unnecessary public trips.
“If you can be home, stay home,” Haynes said.
Local officials also expect the number of cases to rise next week, after free testing on Friday in York and Lancaster counties served hundreds of residents.
DHEC and public laboratories as of Thursday have conducted 272,128 COVID-19 tests in the state.
Thursday, 5,357 tests were conducted statewide, with 14.4% having positive results, according to DHEC.
As of Friday, 512 of the 7,614 inpatient hospital beds in use statewide are for COVID-19 patients, DHEC reports.
McMaster has extended the state of emergency in South Carolina due to COVID-19, but Friday announced he will allow bowling alleys to re-open, reports The State newspaper.
Cases by zip code
As of Thursday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
- 29704 - 6
- 29708 - 58
- 29710 - 79
- 29715 - 74
- 29717 - 4
- 29730 - 136
- 29732 - 160
- 29745 - 45
Lancaster County
- 29058 - 9
- 29067 - 20
- 29707 - 46
- 29720 - 171
Chester County
- 29014 - 12
- 29055 - 39
- 29706 - 38
- 29712 - 5
- 29714 - 14
