CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — South Carolina officials have reported the state’s first pediatric death from the coronavirus, announcing the death of a child under the age of 5.
Health officials did not provide much information about the case, but did say the child was from Chester County.
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“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,” Dr. Joan Duwve, DHEC Public Health Director said. “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.”
The state also had a record number of confirmed cases reported Saturday, as the outbreak continues to spread.
The state added over 2,200 confirmed cases to its total count on Saturday, the highest number since the pandemic started, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
South Carolina also saw its highest-yet rate of positive tests Saturday, with over 22% of people tested coming back positive for the virus.
State health officials say young adults are driving a spike in cases.
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