US doctor: Virus 'category 6 hurricane of illness'

A South Carolina doctor is warning Charleston that coronavirus could overwhelm city hospitals.

Dr. Stan Wilson of  health care provider Roper St. Francis called COVID-19 a "category six hurricane of illness".

South Carolina has reported more than 1,000 newly diagsed cases in 12 of past 14 days - only 1,000-plus case days since virus was first detected in state in early March.

Health officials diagsed 1,629 new cases Thursday, which was third day in a row with more than 1,600 newly reported COVID-19 infections.

state reported 19 deaths Thursday - after reporting a record 24 deaths day before.

re are 1,125 people in hospital with COVID-19,   state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported.

South Carolina ranks third in United States in newly diagsed cases over past 14 days justed by population, trailing only Arizona and Florida.