More than 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina, and five new virus-related deaths
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Health officials have announced 274 new cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina and five more virus-related deaths.
This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 3,065, and those who have died to 72, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
New cases reported on Friday include 2 in Beaufort, 6 in Berkeley, 15 in Charleston, 7 in Dorchester, 3 in Georgetown, 2 in Orangeburg, and 1 in Williamsburg.
The deaths reported on Friday occurred in three middle-aged people with underlying health conditions who were residents of Berkley, Florence, and Greenville counties.
Additionally, DHEC said there were two deaths that occurred in elderly patients with underlying health conditions who were residents of Greenville County.
As of Friday afternoon, there have been a total of 28,183 coronavirus tests with 25,118 testing negative and 3,065 testing positive.
Those totals originate from DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory and private labs in the state.
The most positive cases are in Richland County with 452 followed by Charleston County with 328.
| LOWCOUNTRY COUNTIES REPORT FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 10 | TOTAL POSITIVE CASES | TOTAL DEATHS |
|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County | 186 | 5 |
| Berkeley County | 67 | 1 |
| Charleston County | 328 | 1 |
| Colleton County | 15 | 0 |
| Dorchester County | 65 | 0 |
| Georgetown County | 28 | 1 |
| Orangeburg County | 37 | 0 |
| Williamsburg County | 15 | 0 |
Currently, state health officials estimate there are a total of 18,226 cases in the state. The estimate counts represent people who are potentially undiagnosed.
According to state health officials, estimated cases are calculated based on evidence that for every known case of COVID-19, there could be up to 9 people with the virus who remain unidentified in the community
“By including estimates, we hope to better convey more meaningful information about the risk of disease spread in our community,” DHEC officials said.
| TOTAL ESTIMATED CASES FOR LOWCOUNTRY COUNTIES AS OF FRIDAY, APRIL 10 | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| Beaufort County | 1,277 |
| Berkeley County | 525 |
| Charleston County | 2,305 |
| Colleton County | 140 |
| Dorchester County | 465 |
| Georgetown County | 214 |
| Orangeburg County | 307 |
| Williamsburg County | 102 |
As of Friday morning, 5,545 hospital beds are available and 6,173 were being used, which is a 52.7% statewide hospital bed utilization rate, according to data provided by DHEC.
DHEC is continuing to encourage South Carolinians to stay home and minimize contact with people outside their home to prevent the spread of the disease.
Health officials also recommended the following steps that the public should be doing:
- Monitoring for symptoms
- Practicing social distancing
- Avoiding touching frequently touched items
- Regularly washing your hands
“Anyone with concerns about their health should reach out to their healthcare provider or use the telehealth services provided by several health care systems,” DHEC officials said.
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