By Jerry Bellune

JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Lexington County's 5 districts report 24 schools infected with covid-19.
That's an increase of 16 schools infected since last Tuesday's report of 8 schools infected.

Health officials continue to disguise exact case numbers in reporting "fewer than 5 cases."
They say they do this to protect privacy despite the public's need to know specifically how many are infected.
Rep. Chip Huggins has joined the Chronicle in asking the governor to force disclosure of specific numbers but not individual students or faculty names.

“The exact number of cases is no violation of anyone’s privacy,” said Bill Rogers, executive director of the SC Press Association.

“Parents have right to know what is going on at their schools.
“Withholding this only hurts DHEC’s credibility.”

No stigma is attached to specific reporting.
Sen. Katrina Shealy and Irmo Mayor Barry Walker have publicly disclosed that they have tested positive.

Lexington 1
Carolina Springs Middle: Fewer than 5 students
Centerville Elementary: Fewer than 5 students and fewer than 5 employees
Forts Pond Elementary: Fewer than 5 students
Gilbert Elementary: Fewer than 5 students
Gilbert High: Fewer than 5 employees
Gilbert Middle: Fewer than 5 students
Lexington Elementary: Fewer than 5 employees
Lexington High: Fewer than 5 students
Meadow Glen Middle: Fewer than 5 students
Pelion Elementary: Fewer than 5 employees
Pelion High: Fewer than 5 students
River Bluff High: Fewer than 5 students and fewer than 5 employees
Rocky Creek: Fewer than 5 students
White Knoll High: Fewer than 5 students
Lexington 2
Airport High: Fewer than 5 students
Brookland-Cayce Senior High: Fewer than 5 students
Lexington 3
Batesburg-Leesville Middle: Fewer than 5 students and fewer than 5 employees
Lexington 4
Sandhills Elementary: Fewer than 5 students
Swansea High: Fewer than 5 students
Lexington-Richland 5
Ballentine Elementary: Fewer than 5 employees
Chapin High: Fewer than 5 students and fewer than 5 employees
Chapin Intermediate: Fewer than 5 employees
Dutch Fork Middle: Fewer than 5 employees
7 Oaks Elementary: Fewer than 5 employees,

Statewide cases
The stater's public schools have reported 102 new coronavirus cases since Tuesday.
That's 724 total infections since school began.
It includes 501 student cases and 223 employee cases, according to the DHEC database updated Friday.