Sumter Today: COVID-19 update Thursday, July 9

DHEC announced 1,723 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 22 additional deaths. The percent of tests that came back positive yesterday was 20.6%, and there are 1,433 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state. According to DHEC, the Pee Dee region, which they include Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties in, is at 80% hospital bed occupancy. While Prisma Health can transfer patients among its facilities across the Midlands and Upstate, DHEC’s data as of Thursday afternoon shows Sumter County is at 85.8% occupancy with 22 beds remaining. One county, Chester County, is reporting its hospital has no beds available.