Expanded covid-19 testing is paying off.

The number of new cases may be intimidating but early detection can save lives.

SC health officials reported 210 new Lexington County cases and 273 new Richland County cases.

In contrast, Greenvile County had a recotd 703 new cases

Only 1 probable death was reported in our county - an elderly patient who died Dec. 21.

1 confirmed elderly death was reported in Richland County Dec. 19.

 The Department of Health and Environmental Control gave this covid update Wednesday.

Today's cases and deaths (scdhec.gov/COVID19) 

• New confirmed/probable total cases: 3,599/104 Summary click here 
• New confirmed/probable total deaths: 49/3 Summary click here 

Cumulative totals (scdhec.gov/COVID19)

• Confirmed and probable cases: 261,024/21,206
• Confirmed and probable deaths: 4,651/377
• Tests performed for South Carolinians: 3,409,193

Testing opportunities (scdhec.gov/findatest)

• Testing opportunities available statewide: 315

Percent positive (scdhec.gov/COVID19dashboard)

• 16,330 new individual test results reported statewide (not including antibody tests)
• 22% tested positive as infected.
•  That means 78% tested negative as uninfected.

Facility reports

• Hospital data (daily): scdhec.gov/COVID19hospitals
• Extended care facility data (Tuesdays and Fridays): scdhec.gov/nursinghomedata
• Assisted living visitation status (Tuesdays): scdhec.gov/nursinghomedata
• Private, public and charter schools (Tuesdays and Fridays): scdhec.gov/schools

The information above as well as extensive reporting on county-level information, demographics and more is available at scdhec.gov/COVID19.