Coronavirus latest: York County adds lowest case count in weeks but reports 28th death
York County added 30 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, which is the lowest daily case count added in about a month, South Carolina health officials said.
The county has had a total of 3,322 cases confirmed since the pandemic started in March, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. In the last week, the county added 370 cases, and on five of those seven days, the county reported more than 50 cases.
Across the state, DHEC identified 1,175 new cases Wednesday, bringing the state’s total reported infections to 94,837. Officials also reported another 45 South Carolinians have died as a result of the virus, including two people from York and Lancaster counties. The state’s death toll is now 1,819.
The York County resident, who was between the age of 35 to 64, died July 19, according to DHEC on Wednesday. In total, there have been 28 coronavirus-related deaths in York County, according to state officials.
The Lancaster County resident, age 65 or older, died Monday, according to DHEC. In total, there have been 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Lancaster County, according to state officials.
Lancaster County added seven new coronavirus cases, for a total of 1,085 confirmed cases, according to DHEC. The county has not added a daily case count in the single digits in about two weeks.
Chester County also added 16 new coronavirus cases Wednesday. The county has had a total of 595 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, according to DHEC.
Carowinds closed
Carowinds officials said Tuesday the amusement park will remain closed through the end of the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The park accounts for nearly half of the visitors to York County a year, Billy Dunlap, CEO of the tourism group Visit York County, 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 Tuesday, 5,679 tests were conducted statewide, with about 21% 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 804,195 tests.
Of the 1,132 intensive care unit beds in use across the state Wednesday, 363 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, 270 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 Saturday 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.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Tuesday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 51
▪ 29708 - 346
▪ 29710 - 374
▪ 29715 - 400
▪ 29717 - 16
▪ 29730 - 833
▪ 29732 - 799
▪ 29745 - 364
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 44
▪ 29067 - 103
▪ 29707 - 215
▪ 29720 - 764
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 36
▪ 29055 - 103
▪ 29706 - 352
▪ 29712 - 21
▪ 29714 - 42
