York County coronavirus-related death count reaches 75 as cases continue to fall
Coronavirus cases and virus-related deaths in York, Lancaster and Chester counties went up Thursday.
Two deaths were reported in the area. One York County resident, 65 or older, died Wednesday after contracting the virus, according to information released by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. And a Lancaster County resident, 65 or older, died Tuesday from the virus, according to DHEC data.
An additional 15 cases were reported in York County Thursday, according to DHEC data. York County, with a population of about 280,000, now has tallied 5,341 COVID-19 cases and 75 deaths.
An additional six cases were added Thursday in Lancaster County, according to DHEC data. The county, which has a population just over 98,000, has tallied 2,090 COVID-19 cases and 49 deaths.
Chester County added one case Thursday. The county, with a population of 32,000, has had 1,033 cases and 20 confirmed deaths since mid-March, the agency reported.
Across South Carolina, 229 new cases were reported Thursday. Since mid-March, 143,787 cases and 3,203 deaths have been reported statewide.
Of the 1,693 tests completed Wednesday across the state, 13.5% came back positive, according to DHEC data.
York County
York County has a “moderate” incidence rate, based on DHEC’s definition. The two-week cumulative incidence rate represents new cases reported in the last two weeks per 100,000 people.
In the county, officials have administered 55,516 COVID-19 tests since March, with 13.8% coming back positive, according to DHEC data. The county’s weekly average of percentage positive cases — which indicates how widespread the virus is — went down after it hit a high in mid-July, but has since gone back up in August.
For the week ending Aug. 15, on average, about 12.9% of all tests were positive. For the week ending Oct. 1, the total was at 17.6%.
The 29730 ZIP code, which includes Rock Hill and extends to the Lesslie community, has the most coronavirus cases in the county with 1,297. The next-highest ZIP code is 29732, which covers the Newport and India Hook areas, with 1,242 cases.
Lancaster County
Lancaster County has a “moderately high” incidence rate, based on DHEC’s definition.
Health officials in the county have administered more than 20,158 COVID-19 tests since March, with 14.7% coming back positive, according to DHEC data. The county’s weekly average of percentage-positive fluctuated since throughout July and August, but it went back down in September.
For the week ending on Aug. 15, on average, about 21.3% of all tests were positive. For the week ending Oct. 1, the total was at 14.9%.
The 29720 ZIP code, which covers the city of Lancaster, has the most coronavirus cases in Lancaster County with 1,507. About 72% of the county’s cases are in that ZIP code.
Chester County
Last week, Chester County downgraded from a “high” incidence rate to a “moderately high” rate. And now, this week, the county has a “moderate” rate, based on DHEC’s definition.
In Chester County, health officials have administered more than 8,663 COVID-19 tests since March, with 17.2% coming back positive, according to DHEC data. The county’s weekly average of percentage positive went up significantly at the end of August, but it has since declined in September.
For the week ending on Aug. 31 on average, about 34.3% of all tests were positive. For the week ending Oct. 1, the total was at 18.1%.
The 29706 ZIP code, which covers the city of Chester, has the most coronavirus cases in Chester County with 659. About 64% of the county’s cases are in that ZIP code.
Where to get tested?
Winthrop University will have a free testing site open Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The testing site, in partnership with DHEC, will be at the Winthrop Coliseum, at 1162 Eden Terrace in Rock Hill.
Affinity Health Center will have a free testing site open Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Clover. The site will be at the Clover First Baptist Church, at 117 South Main Street.
There will be free testing in Richburg on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The testing site, in partnership with DHEC, will be at the Gateway Conference Center, at 3200 Commerce Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be free testing in Fort Lawn on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The testing site, in partnership with DHEC, will be at the Fort Lawn Community Center, at 5554 Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
