NEWS BRIEFS: State changes how it calculates COVID-19 positivity rate

Staff reports  |  State health officials last week announced a change in the way they will calculate the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests.

Ten months into the pandemic, officials said the reformed calculation brings the state in line with others and is a better measure of spread.  But slightly lower positivity rates that result should not be used as indicators that COVID-19 poses any less of a risk in the state.

As of Sunday, South Carolina health officials reported 2,228 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, with 35 additional confirmed deaths.  Using the new calculation method, the state reported that 8.8 percent of 35,718 tests were positive for COVID-19.  Prior to the new method, positivity rates were more than 20 percent.

• Confirmed cases in S.C.: 412,996 (+2,228 from the previous day).
• Total positive cases in Charleston County: 34,589 (+157).
• Total positive cases in Berkeley County: 13,380 (+68).
• Total positive cases in Dorchester County: 13,500 (+79).
• Deaths in S.C. from COVID-19: 6,849 (+35).

“It is important that people understand that while percent positive appears as a smaller number under the new way of calculating the rate, COVID-19 continues to spread at an elevated level in our state. That smaller number is solely based on the change in the way we calculate the rate,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, in a statement on Tuesday.  Learn more about the recalculation method.

In other recent news:

$300 million lawsuit alleges voyeurism at Bishop England.  A $300 million lawsuit filed by former GOP state Sen. Larry Richter against Bishop England High School and the Catholic Diocese of Charleston seeks tuition refunds and damages for every child who might have been seen through a window peering into students’ locker rooms.  More: Charleston City Paper.

More bus service on Folly Road.  Starting today, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will double service frequency Monday through Saturday on Route 31 Folly Road, the line that connects James Island and downtown Charleston. The enhanced service will cut wait times in half on Route 31, which previously had the system’s lowest frequency with trips occurring every 90 minutes, according to a press release. Find the updated route schedule is here. 

No fans.  The Volvo Car Open will be held April 3-11 on Daniel Island as scheduled, but without fans present due to the ongoing pandemic. The tournament is forgoing its traditional on-site fan environment to create a made-for-TV tennis event instead, allowing the tournament to operate in 2021.  More.

Huge port deal gets limits.  State legislators have agreed to send a proposed deal to borrow $550 million for Port of Charleston infrastructure improvements to the full Senate for consideration, but only after adding a series of financial controls. More: The Post and Courier.  Meanwhile, the port, along with The Keith Corporation, last week announced the groundbreaking of a 1.02 million-square-foot speculative industrial facility at the Charleston Trade Center off Nexton Parkway. More.

Cunningham starts podcast. Former S.C. Congressman Joe Cunningham teased political watchers and supporters in recent days with news of a “big announcement,” keeping many on the edge of their seats through a 56-second Twitter video. Last week he announced a new podcast, “Joint Resolution with Joe Cunningham.” Its first episode is available on Spotify, features former U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman, a Virginia Republican, and U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat.  Cunningham was defeated in November by now-U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.).  More.

Another podcast.  Charleston Stage also has started a podcast.  “The Ghost Light Effect” features interviews with people who have taken their early experiences making theatre into a diverse array of careers and life paths.  The first episode features Colin Somers and Evie McGee, who were both involved with Charleston Stage from its beginning as The Young Charleston Theatre Company in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Listen.

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