US doctor: Virus 'category 6 hurricane of illness'

A South Carolina doctor is warning Charleston that the 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 diagnosed cases in 12 of the past 14 days - the only 1,000-plus case days since the virus was first detected in the state in early March.

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

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

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

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