COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina saw it's lowest number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases in three weeks and it's lowest percent positive of tests in almost a month in data released Sunday.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced 1,170 new confirmed cases and three new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 25 additional confirmed deaths and three new probable deaths.
The last time South Carolina had a number of cases that low was back on July 6, when there were 947. The percent positive of tests was 15.6%, the lowest number that's been since June 28, when it was at 15.5%.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 80,856, probable cases to 343, confirmed deaths to 1,436, and 55 probable deaths.
Confirmed and probable cases: please click here.
Confirmed and probable deaths: please click here.
[Graphic: Daily coronavirus cases since March. The dotted line represents the trend.]
Testing in South Carolina
As of Saturday, a total of 700,464 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 Saturday statewide was 7,490 (not including antibody tests) and the percent positive was 15.6%.
Nearly 100 Mobile Testing Clinics Scheduled Statewide
As part of our ongoing efforts to increase testing in underserved and rural communities across the state, DHEC is working with community partners to set up mobile testing clinics that bring testing to these communities. Currently, there are 96 mobile testing events scheduled through August 31 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 214 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state.
Hospital Bed Occupancy
Since Wednesday, hospitals have actively been making a transition to a new federal reporting system for proving bed occupancy and other important information. DHEC is monitoring their efforts to transition to the new system. At this time, DHEC is aware that the information currently provided by hospitals through the new system has inaccuracies. Once DHEC is able to verify the information the hospitals are reporting as part of this new system is accurate and the system is fully implemented, we will resume our effort to provide daily data reports.
As background, the CDC notified all users of its National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) on Tuesday, July 14, that the COVID-19 Module for Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity would cease serving as an option for hospital reporting during this pandemic. DHEC issued a Public Health Order supporting the transition from NHSN to TeleTracking on July 15.
How South Carolinians Can Stop the Spread
Evidence is increasing about the high rates of infection in people who do not have symptoms and don’t know they are infectious. This places everyone at risk of getting the virus or unknowingly transmitting it to someone else. Steps we can take to protect ourselves and others include:
- Practicing social distancing
- Wearing a mask in public
- Avoiding group gatherings
- Regularly washing your hands
- Staying home if sick