As SC coronavirus cases rise to 424, health officials predict more than 8,000 by May
South Carolina could have more than 8,000 cases of the coronavirus by early May, according to state estimates released on Wednesday.
The estimates come as 82 new cases of the coronavirus were identified by South Carolina health officials, bringing the statewide total number of cases to 424. A total of 39 counties in the Palmetto State have positive cases of COVID-19.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported the first cases in Marion, Williamsburg and Union counties. Charleston County had the largest increase, with 16 new cases. It was followed by Richland County with 14 new cases.
Lexington County had no new cases of the coronavirus.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control expects more than 8,053 cases of coronavirus by May 2, according to forecast numbers released Wednesday. There will likely be more than 2,600 cases by April 2.
DHEC officials said those are a cumulative number of cases, and people who were previously diagnosed should be getting better.
“As we are progressing, people are getting better now, some of the first cases from March 5 are past the 14-day window,” said DHEC Director Rick Toomey.
The data may change as the state focuses on preventative measures, he added.
May 2 was chosen for the projection to allow DHEC and medical officials to plan the use of resources for the next month, said State Epidemiologist Linda Bell.
“We can change the shape or the slope of the rapid rise in cases and actually our goal is to slow the spread to allow health care facilities time to absorb the number of cases and provide health care over a longer period of time,” Bell said.
DHEC officials added South Carolina is at 57% hospital capacity, and the CDC estimates that 80% of people with the virus will not need to be hospitalized.
The state’s model comes a day after a USC researcher estimated the state could see 9,800 cases by April 5.
Bell pushed back on that estimate, saying the projection was based on a previous large jump in cases in one day. That jump happened because of a testing delay after the public lab needed to wait for more reagents to complete tests, she added.
“It looked like a dramatic jump in cases,” Bell said. “It was only because there were samples held over from the previous day. When the modeling is based on the dramatic jump in cases like that, (it) makes the curve have a more rapid rise and more exponential form.”
The state has closed schools through the end of April, called on people to practice social distancing, and allowed police to break up groups of three or more people if they believe it’s necessary to help slow the spread of the virus.
“The shape of the curve can change based on how social distancing is practiced, but it doesn’t have a way of taking into consideration on whether or not social distancing was used,” Bell said.
The latest DHEC numbers come as the agency released a breakdown of who is getting the virus.
Those most affected are people between the ages of 61 and 70. Statistics show that 19 percent of all cases were in that age group.
But DHEC data also show that younger people are getting the disease as well. The data show that 12 percent infected with coronavirus are ages 21-30.
Data show that the disease was infecting men and women about equally. The average age of those affected was 52 years old. About one quarter of those with coronavirus were hospitalized, the data show.
Testing capacity should increase over the next few weeks, Toomey said. Right now, 20 to 30 testing labs in South Carolina are either operational or on their way to becoming operational, he added.
So far the state’s public lab has conducted 2,574 tests. The total number of tests conducted by private labs has not been provided to DHEC officials.
The state’s public lab can process about 1,500 tests per day.
“Testing capacity will be ramped up in the coming weeks,” Toomey said
State health officials have taken several steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of seven people in South Carolina.
DHEC officials received a shipment from the national stockpile of medical equipment and distributed items to the counties. Tuesday, Toomey said the agency would be receiving a second shipment from the stockpile, which will be distributed by early next week.
The department has also withdrawn $10 million from the $45 million allocated to fight the virus by the state legislature to help with workforce needs, teleworking and buying protective equipment.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has also issued a number of orders to help fight COVID-19 as well.
Monday, McMaster issued an executive order allowing police to disperse groups of three or more people outside of private homes and businesses. McMaster has also called on law enforcement to disperse groups at public beaches and ordered restaurants to close their dining rooms.
New cases of the coronavirus in SC:
- Abbeville County: 2 cases
- Anderson County: 3 cases
- Beaufort County: 4 cases
- Berkeley County: 1 case
- Charleston County: 16 cases
- Chesterfield County: 2 cases
- Dorchester County: 1 case
- Fairfield County: 1 case
- Greenville County: 11 cases
- Horry County: 1 case
- Kershaw County: 5 cases
- Marion County: 1 case
- Orangeburg County: 1 case
- Pickens County: 5 cases
- Richland County: 14 cases
- Spartanburg County: 5 cases
- Sumter County: 2 cases
- Union County: 1 case
- Williamsburg County: 1 case
- York County: 7 cases
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 25, 2020 at 3:53 PM with the headline "As SC coronavirus cases rise to 424, health officials predict more than 8,000 by May."
