New SC coronavirus cases spike by almost 1,000, DHEC says

In the largest one-day spike of cases yet, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Thursday 987 new confirmed cases and nine new probable cases of COVID-19, and four additional confirmed deaths.This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 21,533, probable cases to 15, confirmed deaths to 621, and zero probable deaths.Three of the deaths occurred in elderly individuals from Florence (1), Kershaw (1) and Lancaster (1) counties, and one (1) death occurred in a middle-aged individual from Lancaster County. There are currently no probable deaths.The number of new confirmed cases by county are listed below.Aiken (10), Anderson (14), Bamberg (3), Beaufort (48), Berkeley (24), Calhoun (1), Charleston (139), Chester (1), Chesterfield (4), Cherokee (1), Colleton (3), Clarendon (2), Darlington (4), Dillon (10), Dorchester (20), Fairfield (5), Florence (16), Georgetown (42), Greenville (169), Greenwood (1), Horry (128), Jasper (9), Kershaw (16), Lancaster (7), Laurens (10), Lee (7), Lexington (45), Marion (5), Marlboro (4), Newberry (6), Oconee (5), Orangeburg (13), Pickens (19), Richland (79), Saluda (3), Spartanburg (42), Sumter (34), Union (2), Williamsburg (7), York (29)The number of new probable cases are listed below. Greenville (2), Kershaw (2), Laurens (1), Lexington (1), Pickens (1), Richland (2)Greenville County has the most cases in the state – nearly 900 more cases than Richland County, which is next on the list.After appearing to slow down over the last two days, Greenville County experienced a more than 5 percent increase in cases with the most recent report. Case counts in Horry and Charleston Counties are also rising more rapidly that most of the state.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 7-day average of cases reported is higher than it has ever been.Thursday 731.6One week ago 490One month ago 174.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The number of cases compared to the number of tests done has been above 13 percent for eight of the last ten days. DHEC says a decrease in this figure with the expansion of testing is ideal. This figure was as low as 5 percent two weeks ago. Thursday’s reported testing was the highest figure since the start of June.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”This virus does not take a day off”News of the spike came with a plea from State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell strongly urging South Carolinians to continue to take public health precautions amid concerns over the recent rise in COVID-19 data trends.Read her full statement below: “Every one of us has a role to play in stopping COVID-19. This virus does not spread on its own. It’s spread around our state by infected people who carry it wherever they go – their work, the supermarket, the post office, a friend’s house. By not following public health precautions, many are putting all at risk.”It is essential that each of us, every day, wear a mask in public and stay physically distanced from others.”We understand that what we’re continuing to ask of everyone is not easy and that many are tired of hearing the same warnings and of taking the same daily precautions, but this virus does not take a day off. Every day that we don’t all do our part, we are extending the duration of illnesses, missed work, hospitalizations and deaths in our state.”There is no vaccine for COVID-19. There are only individual behaviors and actions we must all maintain that help stop its spread.”Healthy people may feel they are resistant to the virus, may feel that even if they contract it, they’ll have mild symptoms and feel better in a few days. This may be true for some – but it’s also true that we are seeing hospitalizations and deaths in those who were previously healthy and in almost every age group.”Historically, South Carolinians have willingly made sacrifices for the benefit of all. Stopping the spread of this disease will not be easy. However, I am confident in our willingness to take the current actions necessary of wearing face masks and social distancing in order to care for each other. Together we can meet this challenge.”Testing in South CarolinaAs of Wednesday, a total of 313,210 tests have been conducted in the state. See a detailed breakdown of tests in South Carolina on the Data and Projections webpage. DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory is operating extended hours and is testing specimens seven days a week. The Public Health Laboratory’s current timeframe for providing results to health care providers is 24-48 hours.Percent Positive Test Trends among Reported COVID-19 CasesThe total number of individuals tested Wednesday statewide was 6,854 (not including antibody tests) and the percent positive was 14.4%. When the percent positive is low, it may indicate that more widespread testing is being performed and the percent positive may more accurately reflect how much disease is present in the community.Hospital Bed OccupancyAs of Thursday morning, 3,583 inpatient hospital beds are available and 7,021 are in use, which is a 70.59% statewide hospital bed utilization rate. Of the 7,021 inpatient beds currently used, 626 are occupied by patients who have either tested positive or are under investigation for COVID-19.The number of people hospitalized in the state that either have coronavirus or are being investigated for coronavirus has never been higher than today’s report of 626. This figure has been above 500 for ten of the last 11 days. It was at 412 one month ago.The 7-day average of deaths reported has dropped all but one day since June 11. It is now at 4.71, the lowest it has been since April 22.COVID-19 Testing DHEC continues to work with community partners to increase testing in communities across the state. Find a mobile testing clinic event near you at scdhec.gov/covid19mobileclinics.You can also get tested at one of 171 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state. Visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing for more information.For the latest information related to COVID-19 visit scdhec.gov/COVID-19.*As new information is provided to the department, some changes in cases may occur. Cases are reported based on the person’s county of residence, as it is provided to the department. DHEC’s COVID-19 map will adjust to reflect any reclassified cases.Additional coronavirus resources:Tracking COVID-19 curve of cases, deaths in the Carolinas, Georgia Latest update on coronavirus cases, latest headlines in Carolinas, Georgia COVID-19 maps of Carolinas, Georgia: Latest coronavirus cases by countySign up for WYFF News 4 coronavirus daily newsletter