South Carolina is seeing a “real increase” in coronavirus cases, possibly fueled by people who ignore safety guidelines like social detachment and the use of face masks, according to state health officials.
In a phone call with reporters on Wednesday, Dr. Joan Duwve, director of public health for the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, said the increase in coronavirus testing is not responsible for the largest number of cases seen since the week last.
During the last week of May, cases increased at the fastest rate recorded since COVID-19 reached the state in early March, according to DHEC data.
On Monday, 9.1 percent of the tests – a record – were positive.
Although that positive percentage fell by half to 4.5% on Tuesday, Duwve said the authorities noted the increase and urged the public to take precautions.
“As we see more people tested positive, we will see more cases spread,” she said. “It is very important that we all just settle in, stay home if we can. We had a very flat curve for quite a while and now, as we are starting to see an increasing number of cases, I’m not sure. This can look like a spot on the curve if we bend over and do what we need to do, or we can see an increase. Depend on us. “
Data from the Medical University of South Carolina has concentrated on two areas of the state that are seeing increasing cases, Lancaster County and Florence County. Lancaster and Chester counties have seen their rate of confirmed cases rise by 5.3 percent overnight in the past week, on average, according to the data.
Florence, Marion, Darlington and Williamsburg counties saw that rate rise by 1.9 percent, the data show. In Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, the rate remained at around 1.8%.
Taking precautions and following public health guidelines, such as social detachment, wearing a mask when going out, washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching frequently touched items are essential to ensure that cases do not increase again, Duwve said.
On Wednesday, DHEC announced 17 deaths from coronavirus, as well as 235 new cases, bringing the state total since March to 518 deaths and 12,651 cases.
When asked if it was too early to reopen the state, which Governor Henry McMaster did about a month ago, she said the governor carefully deliberated his decision to close the state and was equally deliberate about reopening it.
Although there was criticism of McMaster’s decision, Duwve said the choice was up to the governor and that, as a public health agency, DHEC did not and does not have the power to take such action.
She also said that part of the responsibility for eradicating the virus rests with each individual and that the people of South Carolina need to assume that responsibility without the government entering and closing everything.
With the state open again, Duwve said it is critical that workplaces, such as offices that had employees working remotely during the statewide shutdown, continue to do everything they can to promote social detachment.
Whether it is safe to reopen depends a lot on how widespread coronavirus cases are in each community, she said. Areas with low levels of transmission in the community may be at lower risk, while communities with a large number of cases circulating may be at higher risk.
Those with individual offices should be fine if they close their doors, but workplaces with a cubicle-like environment may consider options like having employees on alternate days to limit the number of people present in the building, Duwve said.
The use of masks in the workplace should also be emphasized, she said, adding that any closed building with a large number of people and circulating air presents an increased risk of coronavirus transmission.
Charleston County officials confirmed that a contractor who worked at the Public Service Building on Bridge View Drive tested positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus disease, on Tuesday.
Officials said the contractor does not regularly interact with employees or the public and the authorities have implemented a response plan to clean up that individual’s work area, notifying all employees who are known to have contacted the patient, asking them to quarantine themselves. necessary and continuing to provide personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies to county officials, as well as cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
For several days, South Carolina residents held protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer last week.
The protests resulted in tense clashes with police in Columbia, Charleston and elsewhere and became violent when civilians broke into businesses, broke windows, set fires and the police were suppressed with tear gas, pepper spray and arrests.
With thousands of people across the state participating in the protests, some fear that mass meetings, along with the use of tear gas and other chemical agents that make people cough, could result in an increase in coronavirus cases.
Duwve said DHEC has not yet linked any cases to the protests, but it would not be surprising to see an increase in cases linked to the protests.
She said DHEC’s priority is to respect everyone’s constitutional right to protest and, at the same time, to protect public health.
If they don’t yet, everyone at rallies should wear masks and distance themselves, Duwve said. Protesters should also be aware that shouting, talking loudly, singing and other activities that raise their voices also increase the likelihood of viral transmission.
Of the 17 deaths from coronavirus announced Wednesday, 15 were elderly patients, those over 65 years old. Three were from Spartanburg County, two from Lee and York Counties and one from Aiken, Darlington, Greenwood, Horry, Lancaster, Marlboro, Pickens and Sumter Counties.
Two middle-aged patients, aged 35 to 64, died in Berkeley and Charleston counties, DHEC said.
Tests across the state continue to expand and on Monday 230,687 tests were completed, DHEC said. There are 168 permanent test sites and more than 100 mobile test events planned in South Carolina.
Of the state’s hospital beds, 70.84 percent were in use, with 433 of the 7,340 beds in use being occupied by coronavirus patients, DHEC said.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced that it is providing funding to the Charleston County Community Development Department to be used in the prevention, preparedness and response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The county received $ 1.09 million in Community Development Grant funds and a $ 535,900 Emergency Solutions Grant, officials said.
The money can be used for emergency financial aid, such as rent payments, mortgages and utilities.
Anyone who needs to access money for these reasons should contact the Charleston Trident Urban League at 843-769-8173, the Humanities Foundation at 843-284-5109, Origin SC at 843-628-2301 or originsc.org, James Island Outreach at 843-762-3653 or [email protected], or East Cooper Community Outreach at EECOcharleston.org or by calling 843-416-7120 and leaving a message.
Those in need of food assistance can call Charleston Area Senior Citizens for their Meals on Wheels program at 843-722-4127, East Cooper Meals on Wheels at 843-881-9350 or www.ecmow.org, or Lowcountry Food Bank at 843 – 747-8146 branch 100
Uninsured people who need help with prescription drugs can contact the East Cooper Community Outreach at 843-416-7145.
Those in need of legal services can contact Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services: 843-853-6456, [email protected] or www.charlestonprobono.org.
Homeless individuals and families can contact One80 Place
Individuals / families facing homelessness, responding to a survey at lowcountrycoc.org/get-help. If you do not have access to the Internet, call 843-737-8357. Origin S received funding to provide homeless people in hotels and motels. Call 843-628-2301 or visit originsc.org/homeless-prevention.