After a record-breaking weekend, the South Carolina public health agency is working for a second day to fix a system problem that has led to underreported coronavirus cases.
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control announced on Tuesday 1,361 new cases of COVID-19 – the lowest number registered by the State of Palmetto since November.
But the number is likely to be higher, said DHEC, as an internal systems problem is slowing the numbers. DHEC will update its county-level panel with missing cases as soon as the full numbers are available.
State figures
New cases reported: 1,361, which is 761 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closing of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 328,028, plus 31,329 probable cases
New deaths reported: 29
Total deaths in SC: 5,358 confirmed, 502 likely
Total tests in SC: 4,076,340
Hospitalized patients: 2,453
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 30.3 percent. Five percent or less of the tests with positive results is a good sign that the spread of the virus is slowing, say the researchers.
Most affected areas
According to DHEC data, the main counties for new coronavirus cases reported on Tuesday were Greenville, 158; Pickens, 142; and Anderson, 83.
How about tri-county?
Charleston and Berkeley counties each had 27 new cases, while Dorchester reported 37.
Deaths
Six of the 29 new deaths reported on Tuesday were from patients aged 35 to 64, and the rest were 65 or older.
They lived in Anderson, Bamberg, Beaufort, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Horry, Lexington, Marion, Orangeburg and Richland counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 2,453 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, 485 were in intensive care and 270 were on ventilators.
How many cases were found in long-term care facilities?
There were 15,135 confirmed cases of coronavirus in nursing homes and assisted living facilities: 9,443 residents and 5,692 employees, according to DHEC data. That’s a 9 percent increase in cases over two weeks.
So far, 1,678 residents have died from the virus, a 19 percent death rate. Twenty-eight workers also died. Together, they account for 32 percent of deaths in the state, show the data released on Tuesday.
Of the 684 installations monitored by DHEC, the virus was found in 460. There are active outbreaks in 214 of them, an increase of 22% in two weeks.
Some type of visitation – internal, external or both – is allowed in 321 units; 344 do not allow; and 19 did not report.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other face coverings, social distance and frequent hand washing.
They also recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed to the virus or who are developing symptoms get tested. Those who live in the community or cannot distance themselves socially should be tested monthly, DHEC advised.
Medical University of South Carolina said it plans to offer rapid tests in the Charleston International Airport daily parking lot, from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Go to scdhec.gov/findatest to find a test site in your area.
Talk to Sara Coello at 843-937-5705 and follow her on Twitter @smlcoello.