First child dies due to coronavirus in South Carolina, DHEC says

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced the first pediatric death associated with COVID-19 in South Carolina on Saturday.Officials say the child was under the age of five and was from the Midlands region. “Today, we mourn the loss of one of our children to this virus. It is heart-wrenching to lose a child under any circumstances, and especially so during a time when we have all lost so much already,” said Dr. Joan Duwve, DHEC Public Health Director.”Our state is in a dire situation and we will continue to mourn the loss of parents, grandparents, children, friends and neighbors until each and every one of us steps up to do what is right, not just for ourselves but for others. No one is immune to this deadly disease, but we each have the power to impact the path this pandemic takes in South Carolina. Choosing to wear a mask and maintain physical distance today will not only help change the course of the pandemic in South Carolina, it will help save the lives of those around us.”Saturday also marked the highest number of reported positive cases of COVID-19 at 2,239, the highest reported in a day by more than 300 cases. The percent positive for Friday was also the highest to date, at 22.2%.Officials say since June 1, there has been a 436.5% increase in newly reported COVID-19 cases among the 21-30 age group, representing 22% of total confirmed cases in the state, which is the largest percentage by age group.DHEC also announced 18 additional confirmed deaths, and four new probable deaths. There are currently 1,396 hospital beds occupied by patients who have either tested positive or are under investigation for COVID-19, and 171 of those patients are on ventilators.This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 54,538, probable cases to 146, confirmed deaths to 940 and 11 probable deaths. Eleven of the confirmed deaths occurred in elderly individuals from Aiken (1), Charleston (5), Dillon (1), Horry (2), Lexington (1), and Richland (1) counties, and five of the deaths occurred in middle-aged individuals from Horry (2), Lexington (1), Orangeburg (1), and Sumter (1) counties. One death occurred in a young adult from Horry (1), and one death occurred in a child from Chester (1) county.The four probable deaths occurred in individuals from Lancaster (1), Aiken (1), and Charleston (2) counties.The number of new confirmed cases by county are listed below.Abbeville (11), Aiken (34), Allendale (8), Anderson (42), Bamberg (11), Barnwell (14), Beaufort (105), Berkeley (76), Calhoun (16), Charleston (317), Cherokee (5), Chester (12), Chesterfield (5), Clarendon (16), Colleton (24), Darlington (17), Dillon (6), Dorchester (82), Edgefield (11), Fairfield (25), Florence (42), Georgetown (42), Greenville (279), Greenwood (69), Hampton (9), Horry (208), Jasper (10), Kershaw (12), Lancaster (21), Laurens (39), Lexington (81), Marion (5), Marlboro (1), McCormick (7), Newberry (17), Oconee (17), Orangeburg (64), Pickens (35), Richland (144), Saluda (13), Spartanburg (126), Sumter (58), Union (14), Williamsburg (11), York (78)Probable cases are from Aiken (2), Charleston (2), Kershaw (1), Lancaster (1), and Richland counties.Testing in South CarolinaAs of Friday, a total of 533,738 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 Test Trends among Reported COVID-19 CasesThe total number of individual test results reported to DHEC Friday statewide was 10,083 (not including antibody tests) and the percent positive of those tests was 22.2%.More than 80 Mobile Testing Clinics Scheduled StatewideAs 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 84 mobile testing events scheduled through August 1 with new testing events added regularly. Find a mobile testing clinic event near you at scdhec.gov/covid19mobileclinics.Residents can also get tested at one of 172 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state. Visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing for more information.