York County resident dies, nearly 100 York, Lancaster, Chester COVID-19 cases reported
Another death and nearly 100 more positive cases were reported Friday as York, Lancaster and Chester counties face continued impacts from COVID-19.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released new figures Friday afternoon. They included one death of an elderly resident of York County. York County also had 66 new confirmed cases. Lancaster County had 19 cases, and Chester County 12 cases.
Statewide there were 1,964 new cases announced Friday, and five probable cases. There were 25 deaths and one probable death from COVID-19. The state has 1,593 hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients or people under investigation for it, with 567 of the patients on ventilators.
Since the pandemic begin in March, there have been almost 2,200 positive tests and four deaths in York County. Lancaster County has more than 700 cases and 18 confirmed or probable deaths. Chester County has more than 330 cases and five deaths.
Statewide there have been 65,857 confirmed and 212 probable coronavirus cases. There have been 1,078 confirmed and 18 probable deaths.
“Most of the virus spreads through the air in drops of moisture when the person contagious with the virus breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes,” said DHEC physician and medical consultant Michael Kacka in a statement with Friday’s data release. “Wearing a mask over the nose and mouth collects and traps some of those droplets and reduces the amount of virus someone puts out into the air around them.”
Kacka said masks won’t filter the virus in full, but their use is important – along with social distancing, such as keeping six feet of separation from other people.
“By reducing the amount of virus put out into the air, we reduce the chances that those sharing a space will encounter enough virus to become infected,” Kacka said.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Wednesday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 29
▪ 29708 - 238
▪ 29710 - 270
▪ 29715 - 279
▪ 29717 - 9
▪ 29730 - 524
▪ 29732 - 519
▪ 29745 - 248
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 25
▪ 29067 - 66
▪ 29707 - 153
▪ 29720 - 494
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 24
▪ 29055 - 54
▪ 29706 - 179
▪ 29712 - 19
▪ 29714 - 36
Nursing home cases
Since mid-March there have been 2,463 resident and 1,313 staff COVID-19 positive tests in nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide. Those results came from 245 facilities. There have now been 453 resident and eight staff deaths.
In the past 30 days, 158 facilities reported 644 resident and 432 staff positive tests. There have been 103 resident and four staff deaths.
COVID-19 by demographics
As of Friday the average age of a COVID-19 positive test patient in South Carolina is 41. Of all cases, 21% come from people age 21-30. Whites account for 45% of cases, compared to Black patients at 33%. Other or unknown patients make up 21% of cases.
Non-Hispanics make up 54% of cases, compared to 11% from Hispanic patients. Another 35% are unknown.
Women make up more than 52% of cases. Of those with COVID-19, 88% aren’t hospitalized upon diagnosis.
For people who have symptom onset data with the health department, there is an 87% recovery rate from COVID-19.
Unemployment drop
South Carolina released unemployment figures for June. The state went from 12.4% unemployment in May to 8.7% in June. Nationally, the rate went from 13.3% in May to 11.1% in June as the economy recovers from months of coronavirus social distancing.
Data show more than 105,000 people in South Carolina joined or rejoined the workforce.
“This news shows that South Carolina is leading the way in our economic recovery efforts and that we can, and will, overcome any challenge by working together, being smart, and showing compassion for our neighbors,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement issued after the new figures. “We must maintain this momentum by continuing to get South Carolinians back to work in the safest way possible because we must ensure the future economic health of our state and our people.”
Employment gains from May to June came in one industry initially hit hardest by social distancing. Seasonally adjusted figures, which factor in seasonal changes such as summer tourism or school closings, show the state added 29,600 leisure and hospitality jobs from May to June. That gain was more than twice what any other business sector reported.
Dan Ellzey, executive director of the state department of employment and workforce, issued his own statement after the data release showing there are now more than 2.2 million workers in the state.
“While that is not as high as the (pre-coronavirus) March level, it does show great improvement,” Ellzey said.
Prior to coronavirus, the state unemployment rate was 3.2%. Ellzey said the current outlook is nowhere near what it was before the virus caused business shutdowns, but progress is being made.
“These positive economic numbers would not have been possible without the reopening of the state,” Ellzey said. “It is encouraging to see that our businesses can re-open and comply with strict safety protocols to protect employees and customers. The continued success of our businesses, to both re-open and remain safe, is imperative for the state’s economic recovery.”
Still, state residents continue to file unemployment claims at twice the rate they did during the recession of 2009.
“There is still a long way to go, and there’s much work to be done,” Ellzey said.
Fort Mill pastor tests positive
The Herald reported Friday a Fort Mill pastor tested positive for COVID-19 despite displaying no symptoms. Services at First Baptist Church Fort Mill have been operating under social distancing guidelines, but will continue online until church staff is cleared through coronavirus testing.
Rock Hill schools pick opening plan
The Rock Hill School District voted Thursday night to stick with the reopening plan it will submit to the state even after McMaster called Wednesday morning for schools to offer full five-day-per-week classroom options along with virtual ones this fall. Districts had until Friday to submit reopening plans.
Districts throughout the area began to reevaluate plans, many of them hybrid plans with some in-person and virtual mix for students, after McMaster called for districts to plan five-day classroom options.
Marching band championships
The State newspaper reported Friday high school marching band championships won’t be held this fall in South Carolina. There is a possibility they could be rescheduled for spring 2021.
Nine York, Lancaster and Chester county high schools have won dozens of state marching band titles between them. Fort Mill and Nation Ford high schools lead the way, followed by York, Clover, Northwestern and others.
