COVID-19 data for schools and York, Lancaster, Chester counties to become public.
As public schools gear up in the tri-county area, residents now will have access to an expanding list of the most local, extensive information for COVID-19.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday announced it would make more data available on county-level pages that went live earlier this month. The agency now refers the public to those dashboards for cases by zip code, percentage of positive test, demographic data, updates on chronic health conditions or care facility cases, and other information.
On Friday afternoon, DHEC physician Brannon Traxler said beginning next week the state agency will list cumulative and rolling 30-day case data for staff and students in public schools.
“That data will be available,” Traxler said. “It will be available at the school level.”
York and Clover schools started on Monday. Fort Mill schools start this coming Monday. Rock Hill starts in full on Sept. 8.
The announcement of information updates came on a day when no new deaths were reported in York, Lancaster or Chester counties. York County had 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday. Lancaster County had 13 and Chester County 17. Each county also had one probable case.
Traxler still encourages continued testing for coronavirus as the percentage of positive tests remains higher than the agency would like.
“There’s still a lot of this virus that’s spreading,” Traxler said.
Traxler said there is data that shows communities with public mask requirements fare better than communities without them.
“Our South Carolina mask data does align with the national mask data,” Traxler said. “It’s reporting that face masks are successful...We know they work, and we need all South Carolinians to wear them when they’re in public.”
Overall coronavirus cases are down, with overall testing down in recent weeks. Traxler said the virus manifests itself in numerous ways, which is why even people with mild symptoms should be tested.
“If you feel off in any way, I encourage you to get tested,” Traxler said.
Statewide there were 903 confirmed and 34 coronavirus cases announced Friday. There were 23 confirmed and five probable deaths. The state now has 114,400 confirmed and 1,551 probable cases since the pandemic began, with 2,521 confirmed and 134 probable deaths.
York County is up to a combined 4,158 cases, 261 hospitalizations and 46 deaths. Lancaster County has 1,606 cases, 96 hospitalizations and 35 deaths. Chester County totals 852 cases, 83 hospitalizations and 18 deaths.
York County animal shelter
The York County animal shelter is closed to the public due to staff exposure to COVID-19.
The temporary closure is due to multiple staff exposures, according to information from the county. The shelter is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for quarantine and cleaning. Staff will continue to care for the animals, and animal control officers will respond to calls based on priority.
The shelter will reopen to the public by appointment at 10 a.m. Sept. 8.
For more information, call 803-628-3190.
