After another record week, South Carolina reported almost 3,000 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, the third highest number ever reported.
The state broke a record on Friday with 3,217 new cases of coronavirus recorded by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. On Saturday, the state again exceeded 3,000 new cases.
In the weeks since the Thanksgiving holiday, the number of new cases has skyrocketed, alarming public health officials. In the past seven days, about 20 percent of COVID-19 tests for South Carolina residents returned positive results.
State figures
New cases reported: 2,924, 1,751 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: 234,392, plus 17,814 probable cases
New deaths reported: 44
Total deaths in SC: 4,387 confirmed, 352 probable
Total tests in SC: 3,096,815
Hospitalized patients: 1,278
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 20.5 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 on Sunday were Greenville, 491; Spartanburg, 307; and Richland, 193.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County has had 105 new cases; Berkeley, 64; and Dorchester, 62.
Two more Charleston patients died after contracting the virus, DHEC reported on Sunday.
Deaths
Of the 44 new deaths, nine were middle-aged patients, aged between 35 and 64 years. The rest were elderly patients aged 65 and over.
They lived in Anderson, Beaufort, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Darlington, Greenville, Greenwood, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Marion, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union and York counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 1,278 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, 295 were in intensive care and 129 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 Fleming Smith at 843-937-5591. Follow her on Twitter at @MFlemingSmith.