Coronavirus latest: Clover, York to vote on mask requirement as county adds 30 cases
With more York County municipalities implementing mask requirements in response to the growing number of coronavirus cases, 30 more people in the county tested positive Tuesday, South Carolina health officials announced.
The county now has confirmed a total of 1,570 COVID-19 cases to date in the pandemic, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
On Monday, Rock Hill and Fort Mill passed emergency measures requiring residents to wear masks in public. York and Clover will vote on similar rules in the coming days.
York City Council will vote on a citywide mask requirement Tuesday night. The meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., will be held at city hall and is open to the public. The meeting also can be viewed on Facebook Live.
Clover Mayor Greg Holmes said Tuesday that a mask requirement is on the town’s agenda for its July 13 meeting. Holmes said he supports a mask requirement.
“I will be in support of a mandate for masks,” Holmes said. “Like many people, I do not like to wear a mask, but I wear one to protect others. This is something that is for the benefit of all people in the town.”
The meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m., will be held at the Clover Community center and is open to the public.
York County Council member William “Bump” Roddey has pushed for a countywide mask mandate in public places, but so far, county officials have agreed only that masks should be recommended. Roddey, the one Democrat on council, is so far the only member to publicly push for a mask requirement.
York County Council Chairman Michael Johnson said the issue of a mask requirement will be on the agenda for the next county council meeting on July 20. However, Johnson said, at this point the issue stands only for public discussion of whether a requirement is necessary.
Across the state, DHEC identified 934 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the state’s overall total of infections to 47,214.
Nineteen more people also have died after contracting COVID-19, according to DHEC officials. In all, 838 South Carolinians have died after contracting the virus.
Lancaster and Chester counties
Lancaster County added two coronavirus cases Tuesday, marking the lowest daily number the county has added in more than two weeks, according to DHEC.
The county now has 562 confirmed cases and 12 probable cases, which would be someone who has not received lab test results, but has coronavirus symptoms or a positive antibody test, according to DHEC’s definition.
Lancaster County and the City of Lancaster have recommended residents wear masks, but neither the county nor the city has set a council vote for a requirement, said Steve Willis, Lancaster County administrator.
“The city has urged the state of South Carolina to enact requiring masks, but has not enacted anything itself,” Willis said.
Lancaster County staff have talked with council members about how other area municipalities have implemented mask requirements and are ready to act if council decides that it wants to consider a mask requirement, Willis said.
Willis has been a vocal proponent of a mask requirement, but only the county council has the authority to enact such a measure, Willis said.
Chester County added three cases Tuesday, for a total of 234 cases since the pandemic started, according to DHEC.
Coronavirus testing
On Monday, 4,521 tests were conducted statewide, with 20.7% having positive results, DHEC reported. Since March, labs across the state have completed 488,221 tests.
Hospitals across the state are at about 73% of capacity. Of the 7,734 beds in use across the state on Monday, DHEC officials said 1,324 were occupied by coronavirus patients or those who are suspected of having COVID-19.
Hospitals in York County are at 81% capacity, with 234 of the 288 total beds currently in use, according to DHEC. And Lancaster County hospitals are at about 49% capacity, with 73 beds currently in use out of 149.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Monday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 20
▪ 29708 - 188
▪ 29710 - 203
▪ 29715 - 204
▪ 29717 - 9
▪ 29730 - 359
▪ 29732 - 352
▪ 29745 - 184
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 17
▪ 29067 - 52
▪ 29707 - 105
▪ 29720 - 418
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 16
▪ 29055 - 48
▪ 29706 - 107
▪ 29712 - 14
▪ 29714 - 32
