How many COVID-19 cases does your school have? Here’s York, Lancaster, Chester details
COVID-19 cases thus far remain confined to five tri-county schools, though more students will soon return to class.
Clover High School had fewer than five faculty members test positive. Fewer than five students each tested positive at Crowders Creek Elementary School and Oakridge Middle School, also in the Clover School District.
Buford Elementary School and Buford High School in the Lancaster County School District also had fewer than five cases each, both among faculty members at the school.
On Friday the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released new data on COVID-19 cases in area schools. The health department will routinely update cases as more school districts return to class.
Clover and York schools started back on Aug. 24. Fort Mill and Lancaster County students returned Aug. 31. Rock Hill and Chester County schools resume classes Sept. 8.
The data includes public and private schools, staff and students. The initial release Friday will be followed by twice-weekly updates with total and rolling 30-day counts of confirmed cases by school.
Coaches, tutors, kitchen and custodial staff, maintenance workers and others who spend time at schools are included. Virtual students who aren’t on campus routinely, aren’t. Virtual students who participate in sports or extracurricular activities at the schools are included.
DHEC emphasizes the data doesn’t necessarily reflect coronavirus cases that were contracted at school. Students and staff come to schools from outside settings, where they could come in contact with the virus.
“These people do interact with plenty of other parts of that surrounding community,” said DHEC physician Brannon Traxler.
Traxler said school level information will be useful in coming weeks to determine trends based on location and age groups.
“It could suggest how much disease is really occurring in that community,” Traxler said.
With not all districts starting yet, and others only just starting, numbers are low. DHEC lists schools as fewer than five students to protect privacy.
“Just to prevent identification possibly of the individual or individuals,” Traxler said.
Area schools have been active in COVID-19 prevention well ahead of school starting. The Fort Mill High School football team canceled a week of practice in June after someone associated with the team tested positive. The Clover High School football team suspended workouts last month after a positive test.
Sheila Quinn, superintendent of the Clover district, posted a video on her district site after the first week of school there detailing at the time nine positive cases in two weeks. Quinn said many of the cases weren’t contracted at a district school.
“We are working hard to do our part, to follow all protocols, and to be transparent with you on our progress,” Quinn said in the video.
On March 15 Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order to close public schools for what would become the remainder of last school year. As of that date there had been two confirmed cases in the tri-county area, both in Lancaster County, and just 28 cases statewide.
Numbers have increased since. York County averaged more than 60 total confirmed COVID-19 cases per day in July and had almost 39 per day in August. Lancaster County averaged more than 19 cases and Chester County almost 11 cases per day in August.
Statewide update
The school data came Friday on a day when York County added 39 new confirmed cases. Lancaster County had 27 confirmed cases. Both counties had a probable case, each. Chester County had 18 confirmed cases.
There also were four more deaths announced, two each in York and Lancaster counties. All four were elderly individuals. The York County deaths occurred July 31 and Aug. 25. The Lancaster County deaths occurred Sept. 3.
Statewide there were 1,511 new confirmed and 34 probable coronavirus cases announced Friday. There were 37 confirmed and two probable deaths.
Since the pandemic began, there have now been 121,378 confirmed and 1,947 probable cases, with 2,706 confirmed and 140 probable deaths.
As the state heads into Labor Day weekend, Traxler said important measures from good hygiene to social distance haven’t changed.
“Our guidance has not changed,” Traxler said. “It’s absolutely essential that people enjoy this holiday weekend at home, or avoid large gatherings.”
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 4:55 PM.
