As cases of COVID-19 increase in the state of Palmetto, experts at the Medical University of South Carolina fear that the spread of the holiday will reverberate in the coming weeks.
“I think we will see a big increase coming up,” said Dr. Michael Sweat, director of the MUSC Epidemiology Intelligence Project. “South Carolina is starting to shine.”
While many people stayed at home during the holidays, those who met with others outside their homes could infect several others before they realized that someone was sick.
“There is a kind of second wave that happens before people understand,” said Sweat. “These people then infect other people, indefinitely, until people start to realize that there is a problem. And that takes several weeks.”
Cold weather pushed people in, where the coronavirus is easier to spread, Sweat said. And highly contagious strains of the virus that have hit four U.S. states could overwhelm South Carolina’s health care system, Sweat said.
Charleston’s cases increased nearly 50 percent last week, but the county has many hospital beds available.
Sweat said he is especially concerned with the areas of Lancaster and Florence, where MUSC Health has hospitals and the number of cases is skyrocketing.
“We will have to be really strict in the coming months,” said Sweat. “The numbers here are not as bad as in many places, but the growth rate does not look good.”
State figures
New cases reported: 4,037, which is 2,455 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: 306,204, plus 27,031 probable cases
New deaths reported: 71
Total deaths in SC: 5,139 confirmed, 443 probable
Total tests in SC: 3,856,645
Hospitalized patients: 2,424
Percentage of positive tests, average of 7 days: 31.7 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 data from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina’s top counties for new coronavirus cases reported on Wednesday were Greenville with 792; Richland, 362; and Lexington and York, who reported 268 each.
How about tri-county?
Charleston County had 137 new cases; Berkeley, 113; and Dorchester, 73.
Deaths
Thirteen of the 71 deaths reported on Wednesday were from patients aged 35 to 64, and the rest were 65 or older.
They lived in Aiken, Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Greenville, Horry, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland and Spartanburg counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 2,424 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, 469 were in intensive care and 247 were on ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other facial covers, 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.