note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through September 29, 2020. Some of the information here may have changed due to the nature of the pandemic; updates are reflected in more current stories. For news about the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in South Carolina, visit greenvillenews.com, independentmail.com. or goupstate.com.
Map of coronavirus SC: An analysis of COVID-19 cases by county and postal code
259 Clemson students quarantined for COVID-19
As of Tuesday, there were 259 students from Clemson University in the campus quarantine facility, according to the school’s COVID-19 data panel.
Clemson spokesman Joe Galbraith said the university’s leaders are confident that capacity is not at the limit, but declined to give a percentage of how many beds were left for students to quarantine.
“We also have several students who have chosen to return to their … homes instead of being isolated and quarantined. So that number of capacity remains somewhat mobile, ”said Galbraith.
The university announced more than 400 new cases of coronavirus students in the week of September 20 to 26, according to the panel. Almost 7,500 tests were conducted for a positivity rate of 5.8%, an increase from the previous week’s rate of 4.3%.
The increase in cases occurs a week after students returned to face-to-face classes and the first football game at home of the season.
“Our leadership and modeling team expected a moderate increase in positive cases, after the students returned and the on-site teaching began. Our leadership continues to use modeling and other data inputs to manage potential increases in the number of cases, ”Galbraith told The Greenville News and Independent Mail.
There are no changes to the academic calendar or teaching method planned at this time, said Galbraith.
Testing of random student samples began last week and led to targeted testing of certain groups on campus – such as a specific floor or an entire housing development – to ensure that an outbreak of the virus had not occurred, Galbraith said.
DHEC reports 527 new cases, 22 deaths
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported on Tuesday 527 new confirmed cases and 37 new probable cases of the new coronavirus COVID-19, 22 additional confirmed deaths and 1 new probable deaths.
As of Tuesday, South Carolina had 143,495 confirmed cases, 4,139 probable cases, 3,173 confirmed deaths and 186 probable deaths.
Of the 4,007 test results reported on Monday, 13.2% were positive.
DHEC clarifies data from Clemson University
In its press release on Monday afternoon, DHEC clarified the information on Clemson University’s test results.
DHEC announced that Rymedi, a laboratory that has performed the COVID-19 test for Clemson since September 13, completed its test results report from September 10 to 28. The results show 18,051 negative and 813 positive tests.
DHEC said the numbers will be included in the online data on the DHEC website on Tuesday, September 29 and the tests will be reflected in the historical data based on the dates each test was performed.
Rymedi will report the results to DHEC daily, according to the agency.
What to know Monday
- On Sunday, DHEC announced 569 new confirmed cases and 16 new probable cases of the new coronavirus COVID-19, 3 additional confirmed deaths and no new likely deaths.