South Carolina authorities reported the lowest count of new coronavirus days on a single day in more than two weeks, adding 1,170 on Sunday along with 25 deaths, public health officials said.
Statewide, the virus sickened 80,856 people and 1,436 died, but it is the fewest new cases added in a day since July 6. It was also the second day in a row that the Department of Health and Environmental Control has not released hospitalization data, citing problems with a new reporting system.
Charleston County led the way with 124 of the new cases Sunday.
South Carolina remains one of 19 states without a mandatory mask ordinance, although 80 cities and counties have adopted their own policies in recent weeks.
The 1,170 cases marked a minimum of 19 days and the average of seven days to 1,573 cases.
State numbers
Number of new cases reported: 1,170
Total number of cases in SC: 80,856
Number of new deaths reported: 25, plus three probable deaths
Number of hospitalized patients: DHEC retains data on overcrowding in hospitals and the use of resources, citing a federal monitoring system that is not comprehensive enough to use.
Percentage of tests that were positive: 15.6 percent
Total number of tests in SC: 700,464
Most affected areas: Charleston County registered a high status of 124 cases as reported Sunday, with Beaufort County counting 96 and Greenville County adding 95.
What’s going on in the tri-county?
In addition to the 124 new Charleston County cases, 37 Berkeley County residents tested positive, as did 32 people from Dorchester County.
Authorities on Saturday counted three confirmed deaths in the three-county area: two residents of Charleston County and one of Dorchester County. Authorities said COVID-19 is suspected of the death of a third Charleston County resident.
Deceased
Of the 25 deaths reported Sunday, 21 were 65 or older. The rest were between 18 and 64 years old. They were from Anderson, Bamberg, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Greenville, Laurens, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartanburg and York counties.
Hospitalizations
After briefly summarizing reports of hospital data, including beds, ICU beds, and ventilators, DHEC again stopped its announcements of the numbers. The department said the information, which is provided by hospitals and then reported through a federal tracking system, has been inaccurate. Officials will begin reporting the data once the numbers can be independently verified.
What do the experts say?
As the number of cases and deaths continue to rise across the state, officials continue to issue warnings about what will happen if the public does not take widespread precautions such as wearing masks and social distancing.
DHEC officials said they are working with their community partners to establish mobile testing clinics.
There are 102 mobile testing events scheduled through August 15 and 214 permanent testing sites.
For more information on where and how to get tested, visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing.
Officials continue to urge basic precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus: social estrangement, wearing a mask in public, avoiding group meetings, washing hands regularly, and staying home when sick.
Andy Shain contributed to this story.
Follow Adam Benson on Twitter @ AdamNewshound12.
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