South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster speaks at a news conference introducing state Rep. Bobby Cox as his pick to lead the state’s veterans’ affairs agency, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, at a news conference in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

COLUMBIA, SC (WSPA) – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has identified 32 new cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in the state. South Carolina now has a total of 456 cases in 39 counties.

The state also confirmed two additional coronavirus-related deaths have been reported, one in Kershaw County and one in Sumter County. This brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in South Carolina to nine.

Both patients who died were elderly and had underlying health conditions, according to DHEC.

“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of these individuals and to all those in South Carolina who have suffered the loss of loved ones to COVID-19,” said DHEC physician consultant Dr. Brannon Traxler. “This unfortunate announcement is a reminder of the importance of taking actions to protect ourselves, our family and friends, and our community from this disease.”

DHEC said the fluctuation in the number of cases from day to day reflects the availability of reagents or chemicals needed to perform testing. The state said there is currently a shortage of those chemicals nationwide, including in South Carolina, leading to testing delays.

During a news conference Thursday, Governor Henry McMaster said he would not institute a stay at home order despite calls from multiple lawmakers in South Carolina.

Thursday, Greenville Mayor Knox White also joined calls for a statewide order.

“We urge Greenville residents to stay at home and we call on the Governor to craft a statewide ‘stay at home’ order that better defines exceptions for ‘essential services.’ The virus knows no jurisdictional lines, to be truly effective, this action needs to be in effect statewide,” said Mayor White. “If the Governor does not act, then the city will consider how it can better enforce the ‘stay home, stay safe’ message.”

New cases by county:

Abbeville County: 1 case

Aiken County: 2 cases

Anderson County: 2 cases

Beaufort County: 3 cases

Berkeley County: 3 cases

Charleston County: 8 cases

Fairfield County: 1 case

Georgetown County: 1 case

Greenville County: 1 case

Horry County: 1 case

Jasper County: 1 case

Kershaw County: 1 case

Lancaster County: 1 case

Lexington County: 2 cases

Orangeburg County: 2 cases

Richland County: 1 case

York County: 1 case

Total cases by county:

Kershaw County: 64

Charleston County: 60

Richland County: 60

Greenville County: 51

Beaufort County: 29

Anderson County: 21

Horry County: 21

Lexington County: 20

York County: 19

Orangeburg County: 11

Sumter County: 10

Spartanburg County: 9

Berkeley County: 8

Darlington County: 8

Lancaster County: 7

Pickens County: 6

Clarendon County: 5

Florence County: 5

Abbeville County: 4

Aiken County: 4

Dorchester County: 4

Fairfield County: 4

Chesterfield County: 3

Georgetown County: 3

Jasper County: 3

Greenwood County: 2

Lee County: 2

Oconee County: 2

Calhoun County: 1

Chester County: 1

Colleton County: 1

Dillon County: 1

Edgefield County: 1

Marion County: 1

Marlboro County: 1

Newberry County: 1

Saluda County: 1

Union County: 1

Williamsburg County: 1

DHEC released projections Thursday which say that South Carolina could have over 2,600 cases by April 2 and over 8,000 cases by May 2.