Governor Henry McMaster and DHEC held a press conference today to update the public about COVID-19 numbers and encourage South Carolinians to use best practices this holiday weekend.
"July 4th is coming; everybody wants to get out, but it is a dangerous opportunity for us to spread this virus," McMaster said.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell reported numbers for today, July 1st.
Today marked a record day for deaths and hospitalizations in South Carolina; there were 24 confirmed deaths and 1,160 people currently hospitalized for COVID-19.
Additionally, there were 1,497 new confirmed cases in the state.
Dr. Bell reported the last weeks have had multiple days with new case numbers in the thousands.
She also warned that contact tracing is severely hampered when case numbers are this high.
"It's a significant challenge to interview a thousand patients each day, and if we think about an average of three contacts per case, that leaves us with having to interview approximately 4,000 people every single day," Dr. Bell said. "It's not a means to control disease anymore if we are unable to contain cases around individual case reports."
Dr. Bell continued to say that contact tracing helps contain the cases in smaller numbers, but when case numbers are this high, the work to contain cases is not at the individual level but rather at the community level.
She also emphasized the importance of maintaining best practices for the good of the community and state as a whole.
"An unselfish decision on each of our parts is needed to protect others from this virus by wearing masks and through social distancing. As we celebrate our nation's birthday this weekend, it's a time for us to remember all of those who have sacrificed before us. In a way this pandemic is challenging each of us to consider our duty to one another. It's a duty that requires us to look out for the well-being of others despite the inconvenience and the sacrifice that's being asked of us all," Dr. Bell said.
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