COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's number of daily coronavirus cases dipped below 500 for the first time in 68 days, as the state has seen consecutive days of relatively low numbers.
On Monday, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced 451 new confirmed cases and 8 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 20 additional confirmed deaths and no new probable deaths.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 105,905, probable cases to 1,048, confirmed deaths to 2,185, and 103 probable deaths.
The last tiem South Carolina saw less than 500 cases was back on June 9, over two months ago. The percent positive of tests conducted was 11.5%, the second straight day of less than 12 percent.
The numbers were also good when looked at from a county basis. Richland County had 33 cases, the first time that number has been below 40 since June 21.
For detailed information on confirmed and probable cases, please click here.
For more information on confirmed and probable deaths, please click here.
Nearly 130 Mobile Testing Clinics Scheduled Statewide
State health officials say testing for COVID-19 is essential because it helps identify people who are infected with the virus, whether or not they have symptoms, so they can isolate themselves and keep those around them from becoming infected, especially at-risk individuals who can develop life-threatening illness if they contract the virus. Identifying those with COVID-19 who have symptoms helps ensure they receive the medical treatment they need.
DHEC is working with community partners to set up mobile testing clinics make testing available in a communities across the state. Currently, there are 128 mobile testing events scheduled through October 13 with new testing events added regularly. Find a mobile testing clinic event near you at scdhec.gov/covid19mobileclinics.
Residents can visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing for information about getting tested at one of 227 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state.
Testing in South Carolina
As of Sunday, DHEC says a total of 935,969 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, and the Public Health Laboratory’s current timeframe for providing results to health care providers is 24-48 hours
Percent Positive
The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC Sunday statewide was 3,930 (not including antibody tests) and the percent positive was 11.5%.
Hospital Bed Occupancy
Since July 22, the federal government has required hospitals nationwide to report data directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a new TeleTracking system, which replaces the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Healthcare Safety Network system that had been used initially by hospitals for reporting COVID-19 data.
Hospitals report their information each day to HHS by way of TeleTracking, and that same reporting is also provided to DHEC. Click HERE to view data from today's TeleTracking report.
COVID-19 Information
For the latest information related to COVID-19 visit scdhec.gov/COVID-19. Visit scdmh.net for stress, anxiety and mental health resources from the S.C. Department of Mental Health.
*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.