For the second day in a row, South Carolina confirmed more than 3,000 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.
On average, Palmetto’s state averaged nearly 2,500 new confirmed cases each day last week, the highest since the pandemic began.
The jump in positive tests comes about two weeks after Thanksgiving, when experts warned that travel and meetings can cause asymptomatic people to spread the virus involuntarily to more vulnerable family and friends.
State figures
New cases reported: 3,047, which is 1,828 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: 231,363, another 17,435 probable cases
New deaths reported: 12
Total deaths in SC: 4,344 confirmed, 341 probable
Total tests in SC: 3,058,674
Hospitalized patients: 1,250
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 20.4 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
South Carolina’s top counties for new coronavirus cases on Saturday were Greenville, 510; Richland, 235; and Spartanburg, 217.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 112 new cases; Berkeley, 77; and Dorchester, 57.
Deaths
Of the 12 new deaths, three were middle-aged patients, aged between 35 and 64 years. The rest were elderly patients aged 65 and over.
They lived in Aiken, Anderson, Beaufort, Clarendon, Darlington, Dorchester, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, Marlboro and Spartanburg counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 1,250 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, 294 were in intensive care and 122 were on ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions such as the use of masks or other facial covers, 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.
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.