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DHEC reports 7 new COVID-19 cases in Laurens County

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental control announced Sunday the highest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases in Laurens County Sunday.

Seven new cases were reported in Laurens County, bringing the total to 29 for the county. Statewide, 237 new positive cases were documented along with eight additional deaths. The statewide totals are now 5,490 positive cases with 174 deaths.

The single-day high of new positive cases in South Carolina was 276 reported by DHEC on April 16.

On Sunday, Gov. Henry McMaster said he is extending his State of Emergency order, marking the third time he has done so. Each order is limited to 15 days and the latest one is set to expire Monday, and he is expected to officially announce the extension at a press conference Monday.

McMaster and other state officials traveled to the Upstate Sunday at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to greet the arrival of a Boeing Dreamlifter, which was carrying 1.3 million masks from China. Those masks will go to frontline health care workers around the state.

“We’re not out of this yet,” McMaster told reporters. “We went into this in a smart way with targeted hotspots, so we do not have the burden that some other states have in business closure, but we’re still facing a very serious disease and contagion.

From DHEC:

Evidence is increasing about the high rates of infection in people who do not have symptoms and don’t know they are infectious. This places everyone at risk of getting the virus or unknowingly transmitting it to someone else. South Carolinians are encouraged to stay home and minimize contact with people outside their households to prevent the spread of the disease. Other steps the public should take include:

  • Practicing social distancing
  • Wearing a mask while out in public
  • Avoiding touching frequently touched items
  • Regularly washing your hands
  • Monitoring for symptoms

Anyone with concerns about their health should reach out to their healthcare provider or use the telehealth services provided by several health care systems. For telehealth options and the latest information about DHEC’s COVID-19 response efforts, please visit scdhec.gov/COVID-19. Visit scdmh.net for stress, anxiety and mental health resources from the S.C. Department of Mental Health.

2 Comments

  1. Patricia Cook on April 27, 2020 at 9:50 am

    This is crazy just praying that it’s soon resolved

  2. Patricia Cook on April 27, 2020 at 9:53 am

    Idk what to do or say I guess we’ll all prepare to live a hermit lifestyle at home

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