Coronavirus latest: 2 deaths reported in Lancaster and Chester, York adds 60-plus cases
Two more people from Chester and Lancaster counties died after contracting the novel coronavirus, South Carolina health officials said Tuesday.
The Chester County resident, who was between the age of 35 to 64, died Sunday, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. In total, there have been 12 coronavirus-related deaths in Chester County, according to state officials.
The Lancaster County resident, age 65 or older, died Monday, according to DHEC. In total, there have been 19 coronavirus-related deaths in Lancaster County, according to state officials.
Across the state, DHEC identified 1,168 new cases Tuesday, bringing the state’s total reported infections to 93,604. Officials also reported another 52 South Carolinians have died as a result of the virus, including the two people from Chester and Lancaster counties. The state’s death toll is now 1,774.
County case numbers
In addition to the recent deaths, health officials announced that York County added 65 new coronavirus cases Tuesday.
The county has had a total of 3,292 cases confirmed since the pandemic started in March, according to DHEC. In the last week, the county added 380 cases, and on five of those seven days, the county reported more than 50 cases.
York County Emergency Management Director Chuck Haynes said county officials have been watching the number of cases reported and are unsure if the trend is leveling off. He said the daily case counts have swung up and down and have yet to show a pattern in recent weeks.
In May, York County added less than 200 new coronavirus cases, according to official state numbers. In June, the county reported 792 new cases. In July, the county added 1,876 cases.
Lancaster County added 14 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 1,078 confirmed cases, according to DHEC.
Chester County also added six new coronavirus cases Tuesday, which is the lowest daily case count added in about a month. The county has had a total of 579 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, according to DHEC.
Mask use
Lancaster County Council is set to discuss the use of face masks in public at its meeting Monday, county administrator Steve Willis said.
Council could talk about a mask resolution, a proposed mask ordinance, or continuing as is in Lancaster County without any formal action by council, Willis said.
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 Monday, 6,389 tests were conducted statewide, with about 18% 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 795,871 tests.
Of the 1,113 intensive care unit beds in use across the state Tuesday, 355 were occupied by coronavirus patients or those who are suspected of having COVID-19. That means that about 32% of ICU beds in use are being filled by likely COVID-19 patients.
Of those patients, 254 were on ventilators, according to DHEC.
Where to get tested
On Friday, Affinity Health Center will have free curbside testing at First Baptist Church in Clover from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a press release from the center. Testing is free and requires no referral or insurance.
Affinity will continue free curbside testing on the third Friday of each month at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church in York from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be free testing in Chester County on 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, Chester City Council member Angela Douglas said.
About 440 people were tested Tuesday at a free testing site at the Kenneth Monroe Transformation Center on Saluda Street in Rock Hill, said Ernest Brown, CEO of North Central Medical Center, which sponsored the event.
North Central officials tested more than 500 people at free testing last month at the same site.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Monday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 50
▪ 29708 - 343
▪ 29710 - 370
▪ 29715 - 398
▪ 29717 - 16
▪ 29730 - 823
▪ 29732 - 791
▪ 29745 - 360
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 44
▪ 29067 - 102
▪ 29707 - 213
▪ 29720 - 759
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 34
▪ 29055 - 100
▪ 29706 - 343
▪ 29712 - 21
▪ 29714 - 42
