(04/30/2020)
You’ve seen it in state-wide news outlets for the past few weeks, and heard it from sources much larger than our county: Clarendon has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases per capita in the state.
How did Clarendon get to be so infested with the Coronavirus? What are we doing wrong that other counties are doing right? How can we fix this problem before it gets any worse? Hopefully, this article will clear up some of that confusion.
The numbers.
Clarendon currently has a rate of 622.31 cases per every 100,000. However, the population is, on average, 33,000. This is why the actual number of positive cases, at this time, is only 210. However, this is still a cause for concern. Sumter County, our neighbor, only has 228 cases. At first glance, one might say that they have more, so we are better off. However, their average population is 132,420, bringing their rate to only 213.64 per 100,000. This means that 0.62% of Clarendon County’s population has the Coronavirus, while Sumter County falls at only 0.21%. This means that citizens living within Clarendon have a much higher chance of contracting the virus. Even more alarming is the case of Williamsburg County, our other neighbor. They share a similar population, 30,606, however, they have a much smaller rate of infection. Their total number of cases is 67, with a rate of 220 per 100,000, or 0.21%. Looking past the case rate, we see the death toll. The number of COVID-related deaths in Clarendon has risen to 17, the third-highest in the State. Of these cases, 15 were Elderly, with and without preexisting conditions; the other two were middle-aged individuals.
The Solution
At a time like this, with extended state-of-emergency orders and rising sickness and death, how does a community recover? What steps can be taken to keep this from getting worse? The solution is simple and has been the entire time: follow the guidelines.
“The personal responsibility of each individual citizen is paramount in slowing the spread of the virus,” said Mcleod Health Clarendon Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Rabon. “Practicing social distancing, hand hygiene and covering your mouth and nose with a face covering when out in public is key to lowering the transmission of the virus. All residents should comply with recommended best practices and make informed responses not only to protect themselves but each other.”
Stay indoors if you can, work from home if you can, wash your hands regularly. When you go out, practice social distancing. Send one person from your family on that grocery trip instead of bringing the whole house. Our experience may be highlighted among others, but we are not unique in this. Our struggles are the struggles of our community, county, state, and nation. We are all in this together, and we can only triumph when we are one.
Regardless of what happens, we will come out on the other side. We have to remain safe and cautious, but this is not a time of fear. Now, more than ever, we need community.
