SC plans more coronavirus testing; Lancaster cases spike after drop in count this week
Coronavirus cases climbed in Lancaster County Thursday after a significant drop reported earlier this week, South Carolina health officials said.
The county added 30 COVID-19 cases, for a total of 1,407 since the pandemic started, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Lancaster County reported nine cases Tuesday and 13 Wednesday, which is among the lowest reported in the county in recent weeks.
Coronavirus cases in York County are continuing to decline. The county added 24 cases Thursday, for a total of 3,848, according to DHEC. The county added 18 cases Wednesday, which is the first time since June 19 the county has reported fewer than 20 cases in a day, according to official state numbers.
Chester County broke its five-day streak reporting cases in the single digits, with its daily case count jumping to 13 Thursday. The county now has had a total of 769, according to DHEC.
Lancaster County Administrator Steve Willis said Thursday’s 30 positive cases show that the pandemic has not eased as much as officials would have hoped in Lancaster County.
“COVID-19 is still in our county and we have to remain serious about safety,” Willis said.
DHEC officials said Thursday that 896 more people had tested positive for the virus across the state. Those cases brought the total of South Carolinians diagnosed with coronavirus to 108,146.
The agency also announced that 42 more people have died after contracting COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2,289.
DHEC officials last week said the drop in cases in the state is due to fewer people getting tested for the virus. Starting in September, DHEC plans to have at least one free testing site each week in all 46 South Carolina counties, said Willis and Chester County Supervisor Shane Stuart.
Site locations for the free testing in York, Chester and Lancaster counties are being worked out, officials said.
Previously planned testing in York and Rock Hill will continue Friday and Saturday.
York will have free testing Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, at 302 California Street.
There will be free testing in Rock Hill on Saturday from 9 a.m to noon at Rock Grove AME Zion Church, at 1460 Margaret Street.
Both testing sites are free and do not require an appointment or insurance.
There will be free testing in Lancaster Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lancaster County Health Department, at 1228 Colonial Commons Court. An appointment is required.
Coronavirus testing and hospitalizations
Another indicator of the coronavirus’ spread is the percentage of daily positive tests. In recent weeks, the percentage of positive tests averaged 18%-20%.
Officials reported Thursday that 5,877 tests were conducted statewide, with about 15% having positive results. That’s a higher rate than what health officials reported in March and early April, DHEC reported. In May, at its lowest point, the percentage of positive tests averaged 2% to 4%. Since March, labs across the state have completed 955,834 tests.
The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients peaked at more than 1,700 on July 23 and has slightly decreased since.
Of the 1,108 people hospitalized across the state with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, 272 are in intensive care and, of those, 170 are on ventilators, state health officials said Monday.
Of the state’s 10,194 total inpatient hospital beds, 1,883 are available, meaning 81.6% of the state’s beds are in use.
There’s even less space across York and Lancaster counties. About 86% of Lancaster County’s beds in use, and in York County, 82.8% of beds are occupied.
Cases by ZIP code
As of Wednesday night, these are the total number of coronavirus cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29704 - 57
▪ 29708 - 384
▪ 29710 - 434
▪ 29715 - 449
▪ 29717 - 18
▪ 29730 - 974
▪ 29732 - 929
▪ 29745 - 425
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 67
▪ 29067 - 130
▪ 29707 - 267
▪ 29720 - 996
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 46
▪ 29055 - 112
▪ 29706 - 475
▪ 29712 - 27
▪ 29714 - 63
