Coronavirus latest: York County case total tops 700, Lancaster County adds 2 deaths
York County now has confirmed more than 700 coronavirus cases, and Lancaster County added two coronavirus-related deaths, South Carolina health officials announced Thursday.
One death in the county involved an elderly individual and another involved a middle-aged individual, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Based on the agency’s count, there have been nine coronavirus-related deaths in Lancaster County.
With the addition of four new deaths related to the virus reported across the state Thursday, two of which were in Lancaster County, the state’s death toll is now at 621.
York County added 29 new cases, and has had 729 cases reported since the pandemic started, according to DHEC. Last week, York County reported at least 20 new cases each day, and it added 34 new cases on Saturday, which marked the highest single-day number reported to date. And on Tuesday, the county reported 33 cases.
In the past two weeks, the county’s cases have increased by about 40% from the total cases in the previous three months.
York County Council member William “Bump” Roddey said with positive coronavirus cases unquestionably rising, it’s time county officials consider a mask requirement for people in public places. Although the county does not have the authority to mandate masks, Roddey said the county needs to take a firm leadership stance.
“Having a recommendation that everyone wear a mask in public where at all possible surely would not hurt, and clearly would help,” Roddey said. “These cases continue to go up. It is clear now that positive cases are going up faster than, ‘Just because we are testing more people’.”
Roddey said it seems clear to him that many have let their guard down and stopped wearing masks or social distancing.
‘We can make a strong statement as a county, and show leadership, that wearing a mask in public is a health benefit for the person wearing it and anyone else around them,” Roddey said. “We are talking about the health and safety of our families, our neighbors, our fellow man here.”
DHEC identified 987 new cases of COVID-19 across the state Thursday, pushing the overall total of infections to 21,533 and breaking the record for the largest single-day increase in cases.
Lancaster County reported seven new cases, for a total of 277 cases, according to DHEC. Chester County reported one new case Thursday for a total of 127 confirmed cases, DHEC said.
Hospitalization rate
Hospitals across the state are at about 71% capacity. Of the 7,021 beds in use across the state on Thursday, DHEC officials said, 626 are occupied by coronavirus patients or those who are suspected of having COVID-19.
In 10 of the last 11 days, the number of coronavirus patients or those suspected of having COVID-19 who were hospitalized exceeded 500. In April and May, the total number of hospitalized coronavirus patients did not go over 500.
Hospitals in York County are at about 86% capacity and Lancaster County hospitals are at about 45% capacity, according to the agency.
According to DHEC, Chester County hospitals are at 100% capacity and is the only county reporting at 100% occupancy. However Dr. Brian Greig, the Chief Nursing Officer of the Medical University of South Carolina’s Chester Medical Center and Lancaster Medical Center, said the hospital is no where near 100% capacity.
Chester Medical Center, which is the only hospital in the county, is not accepting inpatient stays, so Greig said DHEC’s data may be a reflection that there are no inpatient beds available, Greig said.
In April, Chester Medical Center, along with Lancaster Medical Center and several others, saw about 900 temporary layoffs and pay cuts due to coronavirus. Chester Medical is currently operating outpatient programs and its emergency room, Greig said. Any patients requiring inpatient care are transferred.
DHEC did not respond to a request for comment.
Coronavirus testing
On Wednesday, 6,854 tests were conducted statewide, with 14.4% having positive results, DHEC reported.
Since March, labs across the state have completed 313,210 tests. But DHEC officials estimate that about 86% of COVID-19 patients in the state have not been tested or identified, which means about 153,807 people in South Carolina have likely had the virus.
The agency calculated that there are up to 4,472 unidentified cases in York County based on projections released Monday. The agency estimated Lancaster County has as many as 1,702 unidentified cases, and Chester County has up to 780 unidentified cases.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Wednesday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
- 29704 - 7
- 29708 - 71
- 29710 - 101
- 29715 - 89
- 29717 - 5
- 29730 - 171
- 29732 - 190
- 29745 - 70
Lancaster County
- 29058 - 10
- 29067 - 24
- 29707 - 57
- 29720 - 207
Chester County
- 29014 - 13
- 29055 - 42
- 29706 - 46
- 29712 - 7
- 29714 - 14
