City of York SC starts COVID19 testing; More cases reported in tri-county region.
Three new positive cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, were reported Friday in York County.
York County has a total of 329 cases, health officials report.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Friday announced 245 new cases of the virus in the state and three more deaths associated with COVID-19.
The three people who died were older individuals from Spartanburg and Jasper counties.
South Carolina now has 9,638 positive cases and has reported 419 deaths, according to DHEC.
Local testing
During the first free Covid-19 testing for western York County residents held Friday at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, 342 tests were administered, said Seth Duncan, York city manager.
The service assisted people who came from York, Tega Cay, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie and Rock Hill, Duncan said.
”The teamwork to have this testing site and serve the people of our community and county has been amazing,” Duncan said.
All specimens collected will be tested by DHEC, Duncan said. All patients will receive results of the tests in one to seven days, Duncan said.
Persons who test positive will likely be notified within one to three days of the test, Duncan said. Persons with negative results will be notified within one to seven days, Duncan said.
Affinity Health Center conducted the testing after York city officials worked with state and county leaders and clergy to set up the site.
More free testing for residents will be the next four Fridays: May 29, and June 5, 12, and 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 302 California St. in York.
No appointment or referral is needed, Duncan said.
“We encourage anyone who believes they are, or a loved one should be tested, to come and take advantage of this free public service,” Duncan said.
As of Thursday, DHEC and private labs have conducted 154,746 COVID-19 tests. Multiple mobile testing sites are set up across the state.
Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill also does COVID-19 testing. Affinity Health Care in Rock Hill offers drive-through testing. North Central Family Medical Center in Rock Hill tests symptomatic patients and is planning to offer drive-through testing by appointment.
More cases
Chester County added three positive cases Friday after three days of reporting none, according to Chester and state officials. The county now has 44 reported cases.
That number is expected to increase in coming weeks as Chester has its first free public testing Wednesday and Friday next week, then again on June 3 and 5, said Shane Stuart Chester County Supervisor.
“We have so many people in our county we know have not been tested, and need to be tested,” Stuart said. “Once we have free public testing, we expect to see some positive cases from those tests. So our numbers will likely go up in the next two weeks.”
Stuart said he and other top Chester officials encourage people, as the three-day Memorial Day weekend approaches, to avoid any unnecessary public gatherings.
“It is a holiday weekend, but the safest thing for anyone still is to avoid any kind of crowd,” Stuart said.
Lancaster added four cases Friday, bringing the county’s total to 120, according to DHEC.
Confirmed cases by Zip Code
As of Thursday night, there are cases in the following ZIP codes:
York County
- 29704 - 3
- 29708 - 36
- 29710 - 45
- 29715 - 42
- 29717 - 2
- 29730 - 67
- 29732 - 107
- 29745 - 19
Lancaster County
- 29058 - 5
- 29067 - 12
- 29707 - 28
- 29720 - 84
Chester County
- 29014 - 3
- 29055 - 9
- 29706 - 19
- 29712 - 2
- 29714 - 7
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 5:08 PM.
