South Carolina recorded more than 20 new deaths and 2,100 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. From cases tracked since March, more than 6,000 total cases tracked to personal activities in K-12 schools.
According to the Department of Health and Environmental Control of SC, 4,345 students and 1,841 employees had a positive result and attended classroom activities during contagious periods.
If a student or employee’s score is positive, DHEC interviews him by phone to see where he has been in the past few days and notifies his schools. The staff there can help confirm contacts and notify them, and school nurses should report any positive test results that DHEC is not yet aware of.
While classrooms close for the Christmas holidays, several schools across the state have proposed to keep online learning only in early January to avoid the spread that experts expect to occur after the festive events.
New cases reported: 2,121, which is 1,242 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closure of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 255,210, plus 20,523 probable cases
New deaths reported: 21
Total deaths in SC: 4,587 confirmed, 375 likely
Total tests in SC: 3,342,677
Hospitalized patients: 1,461
Percentage of positive tests, average of 7 days: 22.5 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 reported on Monday were Greenville, 322; Florence, 153; and York, 142.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 94 new cases; Berkeley, 34; and Dorchester, 48.
Deaths
Two of the 21 deaths reported on Monday were from patients aged 35 to 64 years, and one was between 18 and 34 years old. The rest were 65 or older.
They lived in Anderson, Chester, Chesterfield, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Williamsburg and York counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 1,523 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, 324 were in intensive care and 165 were on ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other face coverings, social detachment 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.