DHEC confirms 210 new cases of coronavirus in S.C., 4 additional deaths

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has announced 4 additional death related to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

This brings the number of people who have died in the state to 26.

The four patients were elderly individuals who also had underlying health conditions. They were residents of Anderson, Beaufort, Lee, and Richland counties.

“Every day that we unfortunately have to report these losses is a reminder of how serious this situation is and the obligation we all have to help prevent the loss of additional South Carolinians,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC medical consultant. “Social distancing and staying home can help save lives.”

DHEC is also reporting 210 additional cases of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, the total number statewide is 1,293 cases in 43 of the state’s 46 counties.

The number of new cases by county are listed below:

Aiken County: 5 cases
Allendale County: 1 case
Anderson County: 8 cases
Bamberg County: 2 cases
Barnwell County: 1 case
Beaufort County: 10 cases
Berkeley County: 3 cases
Charleston County: 48 cases
Chester County: 1 case
Chesterfield County: 3 cases
Clarendon County: 3 cases
Dorchester County: 10 cases
Edgefield County: 2 cases
Fairfield County: 1 case
Florence County: 2 cases
Georgetown County: 1 case
Greenville County: 23 cases
Greenwood County: 1 case
Horry County: 5 cases
Jasper County: 1 case
Kershaw County: 11 cases
Lancaster County: 2 cases
Laurens County: 1 case
Lexington County: 7 cases
Orangeburg County: 2 cases
Richland County: 28 cases
Spartanburg County: 8 cases
Sumter County: 9 cases
Williamsburg County: 1 case
York County: 10 cases

Additionally, residents can prepare for a possible illness or quarantine by:

Periodically checking regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply at home
Having nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins
Getting copies and maintaining electronic versions of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other sources and store them, for personal reference
Talking with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.

Individuals with signs of illness are asked to stay at home and not attend public gatherings.

South Carolinians are encouraged to monitor for symptoms, practice social distancing, avoid touching frequently touched items (such as doorknobs and handrails), and regularly wash their hands, especially after being in a public place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is spread mainly from person-to-person by those in close contact, or through coughing and sneezing by someone who’s infected.

Symptoms of the coronavirus can show up between two and 14 days of exposure, health officials say. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

For most people, COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But some severe cases can lead to death.

Most people can recover from the virus at home using over-the-counter medications to treat their symptoms.

Those who are at the highest risk of developing severe case of COVID-19 are the elderly and those who are already being treated for chronic medical diseases.

Young people who contract the virus are not likely to have a serious case, research shows. However, the CDC said about 40% of people who needed to be hospitalized due to the coronavirus are between the ages of 20 and 54.

Those who are hospitalized with serious cases of COVID-19 have trouble breathing, and many need support from ventilators, which breathe for them. The U.S. is working to produce more of the machines to prepare, but experts fear a shortage of the life-saving devices.

The mortality rate for people with the virus has been widely reported around 2 to 3%, but health experts note the actual percentage is not that high, as not all cases are diagnosed or reported.

The rate is higher than the flu, which kills on average about 0.1% of people who get it, based on a 10-year average of data from the CDC.

Anyone with concerns about their health, or who believes they are showing symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, should call their health care provider. Avoid going to the doctor or an emergency room unless the situation is life-threatening.

People without a doctor can take advantage of free online screening from Prisma Health and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

MUSC has an online platform to aid with coronavirus diagnosis and care. Go to musc.care and access the COVID-19 platform. The service is free with code: COVID19.

Prisma Health also has a free virtual visit, which allows patients to video conference with a doctor instead of coming into a facility. The goal is to keep patients who don’t need to be treated at a hospital at home. Go to prismahealth.org/virtual-visit and use promo code COVID19 for a free virtual visit.

For more information on COVID-19, click or tap here to visit the CDC’s website.

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