SC Gov. McMaster: “Wear your mask” as York County and others face coronavirus surge.
Friday brought 40 more COVID-19 cases in York County.
That number is the third highest coronavirus count day since the pandemic began. It’s the third 40-plus case day in a week in York County.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 1,273 new cases statewide on Friday afternoon. York County had almost four times as many as Lancaster (nine) and Chester (two) counties combined. York County is now up to 988 positive coronavirus tests.
Statewide, Friday was the second highest single day for positive tests. Only Tuesday brought more than the 1,273 COVID-19 positive tests and one death reported Friday. The state surpassed the 30,000 positive test mark and has 694 COVID-19 deaths. There are 906 people hospitalized statewide.
Gov. Henry McMaster joined South Carolina health officials Friday afternoon to discuss the continued wave of coronavirus cases. South Carolina is now a hot spot in the country, officials said, with six states requiring quarantine for people coming to them from South Carolina.
McMaster urged people 40 and younger in particular to use social distancing measures.
“This is a dangerous, deadly disease,” he said. “You’ve got to follow the rules. Wear your mask.”
McMaster said there aren’t plans to lift restrictions on nightclubs, theaters, auditoriums and spectator sports.
“All those things that involve crowds,” he said.
It is important, the governor said, to move forward with reopening when cases decline.
“People cannot live without work, without income,” he said.
McMaster asked the health department to develop plans to allow immediate family members to visit seniors in nursing homes. McMaster told parents the state continues plans for in-person school this fall.
“We are intending to open schools, as announced earlier, in August,” he said.
McMaster called it “deadly important” that South Carolina residents social distance.
“Wear your mask, wear your mask, wear your mask,” McMaster said.
Coronavirus cases by zip code
Overall case count by zip code shows the most activity in Lancaster County. The 29720 zip code has 287 total cases. The 29730 and 29732 zip codes in Rock Hill aren’t far behind at 241 and 240 cases, respectively.
There are not seven different zip codes in the tri-county area with 100 or more coronavirus cases.
The health department also lists estimated cases, or how widespread health officials think the virus may be in an area, several times higher than the official positive test count. Estimated cases top 1,700 in the same Lancaster County area and 1,400 in each of the Rock Hill zip codes.
York County has 988 confirmed cases and 6,069 estimated ones. Lancaster County has 386 confirmed and 2,372 estimated cases. Chester County has 159 confirmed and 977 estimated cases.
York, Lancaster, Chester test sites
The City of York and Affinity Health Center hosted a free COVID-19 test site Friday at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church in York. Another will come 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 10. DHEC numbers show about 100 cases so far in the 29745 zip code.
“The number of cases reported daily continues to rise and we all must do our part to keep our families and each other safe,” said City of York Mayor Mike Fuesser. “I believe in individual responsibility, and if we all do our part, we can turn the tide on this pandemic.”
The city asks residents to follow recent recommendations and wear masks in public.
“For months now, York residents have been hearing and taking the advice of public health officials to wash their hands, stay home when sick and social distance,” Fuesser said. “Recently updated guidance is now recommending masks when in public, and I trust York residents will follow those recommendations also.”
Low Country Health Centers provided a mobile test site at the Barnwell Health Department in Lancaster County on Friday. MUSC Lancaster sponsored one at Springdell Baptist Church.
Upcoming mobile clinic test sites include 10 a.m.-3 p.m. events June 30 and July 2 at Trinity Baptist Church in Chester County.
As of Friday morning, the list of curbside, drive-thru, emergency center, hospital, house call, on-site or pop up COVID-19 test locations include five sites in York County, four in Lancaster County and 12 sites in Chester County.
Hospital beds
As of Wednesday, the health department reported York County had 85% of its hospital beds occupied. Lancaster County was almost 54% occupied. Chester County didn’t have a listing, since the county eliminated in-patient hospital services due to COVID-19.
The Midlands region, which includes all three and half a dozen more counties, sat at 74% occupancy.
On Friday the health department updated its information to show a 75% bed utilization rate. As of Friday there are 7,885 inpatient hospital beds in use and 2,579 available. Of beds in use, 906 are for COVID-19 patients.
York County has 84% occupancy and Lancaster County is at more than 46%. The Midlands region is at 78%.
Mask mandate
McMaster said Friday there is “no obstacle” to communities that want to set up their own mask requirements, but the state doesn’t have plans to do it.
“It is not enforceable,” McMaster said.
York County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey said Friday he will continue to push not just for York County to enact a mask requirement, but for the cities and towns inside the county to follow suit.
Roddey said he was told by the county attorney that any potential county ordinance requiring masks in public places during the coronavirus pandemic would only have jurisdiction in unincorporated areas of the county.
Roddey said he sent an email to the mayors and top officials in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay and Clover asking them to consider a mask requirement.
“A county ordinance would cover York County outside the towns and cities, but not inside those areas, so to me the best way to ensure public safety for all is for each place to act on this,” Roddey said. “To me the best way to protect the safety of residents right now is the county, towns and cities band together and work together in this public safety crisis.”
York County positive tests have spiked in the past three weeks, state figures show.
“The issue here is people and their families being safe at home, at work, and when they are out in public,” Roddey said. “Top medical and health officials in South Carolina and around the country are saying that masks are effective. So we should be as effective as we can be.”
Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys and York City Council member Steve Love have said they support mask requirements. However, Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Clover have not had any public push by officials to seek a mask requirement.
York County Council, aside from Roddey, has not discussed a mask requirement. York County and Fort Mill officials have issued statements recommending masks.
Roddey said the daily, weekly, and monthly trend numbers show the pandemic is at its worst now and public officials need to act with the mask requirement to protect the residents of York County.
Health agency grant funding
Catawba Connect announced it will award $100,000 from a new COVID-19 Relief Fund to 14 local groups that provide public health education.
Catawba Connect covers Chester and Lancaster counties, a partnership of United Way agencies in each county and the J. Marion Sims Foundation.
“As residents, it is critical that we all do what we can to support our neighbors struggling with resources like food, shelter, healthcare and utilities during this difficult time,” said Ashley Shannon, Catawba Connect co-chair.
The fund launched in late March and raised more than $117,000 since. More than 100 residents, corporations, churches and organizations participated thus far.
“This grant-making effort has been thoughtful, inclusive, and collaborative to create a meaningful and lasting impact on our communities during this time of need,” said Steve Sherrill, Catawba Connect co-chair.
Grants from $2,000 to $5,000 will go to food distribution, financial assistance, senior services and other agencies. Recipients are Christian Services, GRASP, HOPE, KARE, Lancaster County Council on Aging, Lancaster County Partners for Youth, Upper Midlands Rural Health Network, Unique Hair Design, Counseling Services of Lancaster, Children’s Attention Home, Keystone, Hazel Pittman Center, Turning Point of Chester and Good Samaritan Medical Clinic.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 6:17 PM.
