South Carolina confirmed another 4,576 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the state to more than 320,000 cases as it approaches 4 million COVID-19 tests.
It is only the second day that the Department of Health and Environmental Control of SC confirms more than 4,500 new cases, and arrives one day after Friday’s record of 4,986.
More than 50,000 new cases have been confirmed in the past two weeks, just a fraction of the time – more than four months – that the state of Palmetto took to accumulate its first 50,000 cases.
State figures
New cases reported: 4,576, which is 2,796 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: 320,105, plus 29,979 probable cases
New reported deaths: 52
Total deaths in SC: 5,267 confirmed, 491 probable
Total tests in SC: 3,995,219
Hospitalized patients: 2,383
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 31.5 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
According to DHEC data, the top counties for new coronavirus cases reported on Saturday were Greenville, 723; Richland, 348; and Spartanburg, 312.
How about tri-county?
Charleston County had 250 new cases; Berkeley, 121; and Dorchester, 107.
Deaths
Two of the 52 deaths reported on Saturday were from patients aged 35 to 64, and the rest were 65 or older.
They lived in Aiken, Charleston, Chesterfield, Dorchester, Florence, Greenville, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg and York counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 2,383 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, 457 were in intensive care and 243 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 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.