One more Beaufort County coronavirus case confirmed Tuesday, bringing total to four
One more person has tested positive for the coronavirus in Beaufort County, according to a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control news release. The announcement brings the total number of local cases to four.
On Saturday, DHEC confirmed the first three COVID-19 cases in the county. Two of the people who tested positive had contact with a confirmed case in another state, and the other had traveled internationally. Officials said all three were isolated at home, but declined to say where or provide further information.
In an email, a DHEC spokesperson declined to provide any further information about the latest case, citing “patient privacy policies.”
At a press briefing on Tuesday, State Epidemiologist Linda Bell said DHEC was seeing “ongoing transmission” of the virus only in Kershaw County. DHEC said there are 47 cases in 13 South Carolina counties.
Many local government offices are closed as Beaufort and Jasper counties, along with several municipalities, have signed declarations of emergency, following a state declaration from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday.
County schools have closed and at least one major hotel on Hilton Head Island, Disney Resort, said it would shut down on March 20.
McMaster said in a press briefing Tuesday that he was ordering all restaurants and bars to close their dine-in service starting Wednesday morning. Many restaurants and businesses on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort had already closed. McMaster said he was pushing back state tax deadlines and waiving regulations to help efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.
“The enemy we face ... is bigger than any sort of irritation or inconvenience that any of us could have,” McMaster said. “We are asking people to stick together and understand that we’re in a crisis.”
Tuesday afternoon, Beaufort County implemented Operational Condition 1 status (OPCON 1) for emergency services, indicating that a “disaster or emergency is imminent or occurring.” Beaufort Memorial Hospital implemented visitor restrictions, and said it was followling state guidance on who can get a doctor’s order for COVID-19 testing.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:10 PM.
