Coronavirus

Six new cases of coronavirus reported in Beaufort County; total hits 169

There were six new coronavirus cases reported Tuesday in Beaufort County, bringing the total to 169, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The county had up to 1,142 possible undiagnosed cases, the data shows.

Statewide, 187 new cases were announced Tuesday for a total of 2,417 cases.

Two more deaths also were announced in the state, bringing the total to 51. Four of those deaths have been in Beaufort County.

Parris Island

Drill instructor conducts close order drill at the 3rd Battalion parade deck aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Feb. 24, 2016. Close order drill helps to instill self-discipline in recruits as they become U.S. Marines.
Drill instructor conducts close order drill at the 3rd Battalion parade deck aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Feb. 24, 2016. Close order drill helps to instill self-discipline in recruits as they become U.S. Marines. Lance Cpl. Richard Currier Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island

The ZIP code for U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, 29905, is not included in the listing by DHEC.

DHEC previously said positive cases for Parris Island were reported in the “unknown” category because the cases were reported to DHEC as being in multiple zip codes.

A spokeswoman for the department identified 39 positive cases for the Parris Island zip code on Monday.

The data posted by DHEC late Tuesday showed unknown cases dropped by 30 to 11.

Yet, Parris Island’s zip code was not added to the overall zip code list and Beaufort’s zip code of 29902 increased by 45 cases.

DHEC did not immediately return a Tuesday telephone call asking about those changes.

The base previously said there were more than 20 cases at the Depot. The Department of Defense later ordered military installations in South Carolina to stop making data about COVID-19 tests public.

Deaths

A sign on Hospital Center Boulevard directs all patients arriving at Hilton Head Hospital to use the emergency room as seen on Monday, March 30, 2020.
A sign on Hospital Center Boulevard directs all patients arriving at Hilton Head Hospital to use the emergency room as seen on Monday, March 30, 2020. Drew Martin dmartin@islandpacket.com

Beaufort County has seen 4 coronavirus deaths:

  • An 89-year-old Hilton Head Island woman died Saturday
  • An 86-year-old Hilton Head man died Friday
  • A 72-year-old Beaufort man died Tuesday
  • An 81-year-old Beaufort man died March 30

Possible Cases

The state projects that there are about 973 undiagnosed cases in Beaufort County.

DHEC first released possible case estimates for every county Monday; that number was 752 for Beaufort County.

On Tuesday, that estimate increased to 973 with the rise of new positive cases.

The department estimated there are up to nine people with the virus for every person who tests positive, The State newspaper of Columbia reported Tuesday. The article said, from county to county, the percent of undiagnosed cases ranges from 81% to 97.6%.

“The percentage of undiagnosed cases is highest in some rural counties, which have one or no hospitals,” the article said. “For example, in Dillion County, which has one hospital, DHEC officials estimate that 97.6% of cases have not been identified.”

Zip Code

A triage tent outside the emergency entrance of Beaufort Memorial Hospital as seen on Monday, March 23, 2020. The tent, likely set up in response to the COVID-19 virus, was outfitted with at least one individual in a full-body, protective gown wearing a plastic eye shield and face mask, who was waiting for patients inside.
A triage tent outside the emergency entrance of Beaufort Memorial Hospital as seen on Monday, March 23, 2020. The tent, likely set up in response to the COVID-19 virus, was outfitted with at least one individual in a full-body, protective gown wearing a plastic eye shield and face mask, who was waiting for patients inside. Drew Martin dmartin@islandpacket.com

Here is a zip code breakdown of where people tested positive and the state’s estimates of other possible cases in Beaufort County as of Tuesday.

  • 62 positive and 443 possible in Beaufort (29902)
  • 6 possible west of Beaufort (29904)
  • 17 positive and 121 possible northwest of Beaufort (29906)
  • 10 positive and 71 possible east of Beaufort (29907)
  • Seven positive and 50 possible in Okatie (29909)
  • 31 positive and 221 possible in Bluffton (29910)
  • One positive and 7 possible on Daufuskie Island (29915)
  • Six positive and 43 possible on St. Helena Island (29920)
  • 16 positive and 114 possible on Hilton Head (29926 and 29928)
  • Five positive and 36 possible in Port Royal (29935)
  • One positive and 1 possible in Ridgeland (29936)
  • One positive and 7 possible in Seabrook (29940)
  • Six possible in Sheldon (29941)
  • One positive and 3 possible in Yemassee (29945)
  • 11 cases are listed as unknown ZIP codes.

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Teresa Moss
The Island Packet
618-540-1419
Teresa Moss is a crime and public safety reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. She has worked as a journalist for 16 years for newspapers in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
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