Coronavirus update: Chester adds nearly 20 cases, York records 26th virus-related death
Chester County added its highest number of daily coronavirus cases reported to date during the pandemic, South Carolina health officials announced Wednesday.
The county reported 19 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, for a total of 496, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. In the last eight days, the county has added 19 cases on three different days.
Chester City Council member Angela Douglas said the increase in cases in Chester County has left her and other officials concerned about community spread of the virus.
”I am absolutely concerned, as I have been an advocate for more testing and a mask requirement,” Douglas said.
The City of Chester enacted a mask requirement at the end of June, but the county has not passed a rule, making it difficult to slow the spread of the virus, Douglas said.
“What we have in Chester County is the city with 3.3 square miles of area under a mask requirement, and Chester County around the city with 582 square miles where there is no mask requirement,” Douglas said. “There is very little we can do to control this outbreak in such a small area.”
Chester County Council officials have discussed how to mitigate spread of COVID-19 but have not voted on a countywide mask mandate.
Alex Oliphant, Chester County Council member, said he supports people wearing a mask, but is not in favor of a countywide mask requirement because the rule would be difficult to enforce with the manpower of Chester County officials.
“Everything I have read from health experts supports that wearing a mask is good for the public,” Oliphant said. “We just can’t enforce it.”
Health officials also reported one confirmed and one probable coronavirus-related death in the county.
A probable death involves a person whose death certificate lists COVID-19 as a cause of death or a contributing factor, but has not received a lab test, DHEC officials said.
The two deaths involved elderly individuals, according to DHEC. The confirmed death occurred on Monday and the probable death happened on July 19, according to DHEC. Based on the agency’s count, there have been nine confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in Chester County.
Oliphant said he is concerned with the recent deaths of Chester County residents from the disease.
“My heart goes out to the families who have been devastated by this disease,” Oliphant said.
More cases in York, Lancaster counties
Across the state, DHEC identified 1,666 new cases Wednesday, bringing the state’s total reported infections to 85,423. Officials also reported that an additional 48 South Carolinians have died as a result of the virus, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,551.
York County added 40 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, according to DHEC. The county has had a total of 2,959 confirmed cases, according to DHEC. In six of the last seven days, the county has reported more than 40 cases a day.
Health officials also reported an elderly York County resident died Monday after contracting the virus. In the last seven days, health officials have reported nine deaths in York County.
Based on DHEC’s count, there have been 26 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the county.
York County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey told The Herald Wednesday that residents should protect themselves by washing their hands, following guidelines and doing “the best you can” being safe.
“Employ all the guidelines that the CDC has out, and even go above and beyond that if you possibly can to ensure the safety of yourself and your family first,” Roddey said. “We have to have more community buy-in for slowing this spread down if we’re going to come out the other end a lot quicker than we’re on pace too.”
A recent White House Coronavirus Task Force report, dated July 26, deemed York County and South Carolina a “red zone,” after reporting last week more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people, and a test positivity rate above 10%.
Lancaster County reported 17 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, for a total of 965 cases, according to DHEC.
Testing and hospitalizations
The percentage of tests that come back positive — another indicator of the coronavirus’ spread — has been rising over the last month, according to DHEC officials.
On Tuesday, 8,360 tests were conducted statewide, with about 20% having positive results, DHEC reported. In May, at its lowest point, the percentage of positive tests ranged from 2% to 4% on average.
Since March, labs across the state have completed 734,149 tests.
Douglas said another free testing date for Chester County is set for Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to noon outside the Chester County Government Center, 1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass. The testing is free and does not require an appointment or insurance, Douglas said.
Douglas was instrumental in getting free testing for Chester residents in June and earlier this month at a site in downtown Chester.
Of the 1,152 intensive care unit beds in use across the state on Wednesday 404 were occupied by coronavirus patients or those who are suspected of having COVID-19. That means that about 35% of ICU beds in use are being filled by likely COVID-19 patients.
Of those patients, 242 were on ventilators, according to DHEC.
Hospitals in York County are at 65% capacity, with 232 of the 348 beds currently in use, according to DHEC. And Lancaster County hospitals are at about 66% capacity, with 68 of 103 beds currently in use.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Tuesday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 46
▪ 29708 - 318
▪ 29710 - 339
▪ 29715 - 355
▪ 29717 - 11
▪ 29730 - 728
▪ 29732 - 718
▪ 29745 - 329
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 38
▪ 29067 - 88
▪ 29707 - 195
▪ 29720 - 686
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 31
▪ 29055 - 88
▪ 29706 - 284
▪ 29712 - 19
▪ 29714 - 42
Alex Zietlow contributed reporting.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 3:45 PM.
