As South Carolina notched the all-time high number of positive coronavirus cases on Friday, state health officials are calling this “a pivotal point in this pandemic” in the state and nationally.
On Friday, 2,470 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported, with another 90 suspected cases and 29 deaths, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). That’s the highest single-day total so far over the course of the pandemic. Percent-positive rates also remain high: 21.4% positive from 11,569 tests recorded today.
“We have increasing evidence that household spread is contributing to new cases,” DHEC said in a statement Friday. “This is why it’s so important for anyone identified as having had close contact with COVID-19 to follow quarantine guidelines, even if you don’t feel ill. Asymptomatic individuals are spreading the virus.”
Hope may be in the future, but action now can help prevent further sickness, DHEC said.
“The anticipated arrival of safe and effective vaccines brings hope and puts us one step closer toward ending this pandemic, but the general public won’t have access to vaccines for many more months. We must remain committed to the daily prevention methods that work,” the agency said.
Public health officials reiterate that steps can be taken to help minimize the spread of the virus:
- Wearing a face mask
- Social distancing
- Limiting contact with those outside your household
- Routine testing
- Following to quarantine or isolation guidelines
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