York County just passed a coronavirus count milestone, as a recent trend continues.
York County passed the 4,000 mark for COVID-19 positive tests on a day when the tri-county area reported no deaths and relatively low-hovering numbers of new cases.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 34 new York County cases on Tuesday. That number is a little more than half of what the state averaged for a day last month. It’s on the lower end of daily case counts dating back to an uptick in early June.
The new cases reported Tuesday put York County at 4,004 confirmed and 45 probable cases since the coronavirus pandemic began. York County has 39 confirmed deaths in that time. The most new cases from York County on Tuesday came from the 29730 (nine), 29710 (five) and 29745 (five) zip codes.
With total positive cases equivalent to just more than 1.4% of its population, York County has the fourth lowest per capita rate among South Carolina counties. Lancaster County has the seventh lowest at just more than 1.5% of its population. Chester County is the 31st lowest out of 46 counties, at more than 2.5% of its population.
Lancaster County reported 12 new confirmed cases on Tuesday. That number is the lowest for Lancaster County in seven days. It’s only twice been lower for the month of August. Lancaster County now has 1,517 confirmed and 46 probably cases in total, along with 28 confirmed and three probable deaths.
Chester County had 13 new cases on Tuesday. Chester County has 815 confirmed and nine probable coronavirus cases so far, with 16 confirmed and one probable deaths.
York and Chester counties now list a drop in their two-week incidence rate. Lancaster County still has an upward trend the past two weeks.
South Carolina reported 909 new confirmed and 19 new probable cases on Tuesday. The state had 18 confirmed and two probable deaths. State totals now sit at 112,088 confirmed and 1,400 probable cases, with 2,408 confirmed and 121 probable deaths.
The percentage of COVID-19 tests that came back positive statewide climbed on Tuesday, to 17.4%
Cases by ZIP code
As of Monday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
▪ 29702 - 96
▪ 29704 - 60
▪ 29708 - 397
▪ 29710 - 452
▪ 29715 - 465
▪ 29717 - 19
▪ 29726 - 14
▪ 29730 - 1,019
▪ 29732 - 951
▪ 29742 - 29
▪ 29743 - 8
▪ 29745 - 442
Lancaster County
▪ 29058 - 72
▪ 29067 - 135
▪ 29707 - 283
▪ 29720 - 1072
Chester County
▪ 29014 - 46
▪ 29031 - 23
▪ 29055 - 119
▪ 29706 - 505
▪ 29712 - 30
▪ 29714 - 66
▪ 29729 - 66
Mask rules
Rock Hill extended its mask rule on Monday night. The state emergency management division now lists 12 counties and 62 municipalities with mandatory public face covering rules aimed to prevent COVID-19 spread.
New DHEC data shows about 2 million people in South Carolina, almost 40% of the state’s population, live in a jurisdiction with a mask rule in place. Jurisdictions with mask requirements have shown a more than 44% greater decrease in total cases than others without mask rules. Areas without mask requirements have had a 1.2% increase in cases, compared to a 43% decrease where masks are required.
Along with Rock Hill, York and Chester have mask rules. Fort Mill had one but let it expire. York, Lancaster and Chester counties all voted against mask mandates, their councils instead encouraging residents to wear them.
“The data continues to reinforce what we’ve already known about proper wearing of masks and their success in helping to stop the spread of this deadly virus,” said DHEC physician Brannon Traxler. “Wearing a mask every day in public is critical, however, not all face coverings provide the same protection.”
A recent study, according to the health department, found neck gaiters to be less effective than other mask types at viral spread prevention. Materials used in any type of mask can determine how effective that mask is.
“A close-fitting face mask can be made from common household fabrics and can be very effective in preventing spread of the virus while also providing comfort and breathability,” Traxler said. “We should regularly wash our reusable masks and properly dispose of temporary-use masks when they begin to show signs of wear.”
Healthcare sites
There have now been 354 nursing homes or assisted living facilities in South Carolina to report at least one COVID-19 positive test. There have been 6,824 such positives and 948 deaths. Among healthcare workers there have been 5,746 positive cases.
