3 COVID-19 deaths, 105 new cases reported in Beaufort Co. Friday
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported three COVID-19-related deaths in Beaufort County on Friday.
Those deaths included a middle-aged resident who died on July 18 and two elderly residents who died July 24 and July 30, respectively, DHEC said.
With 24 confirmed deaths this month, July has been the deadliest month for COVID-19 fatalities in the county this year, according to data compiled by The Island Packet. Forty-five confirmed deaths have been reported in Beaufort County since the pandemic began, DHEC and Beaufort County Coroner’s Office data show.
South Carolina has recorded 1,647 deaths since March, DHEC data show.
Beaufort County on Friday also recorded 105 new cases of the coronavirus, according to DHEC data. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county is now 3,492.
Statewide, DHEC announced 45 newly confirmed deaths on Friday. Of those fatalities, 34 were described as elderly residents and 11 were considered to be middle-aged.
DHEC identifies anyone between the ages of 18 and 34 as a young adult, 35 to 64 as middle-aged and anyone 65 or older as elderly. No other identifying information is released by the agency, such as exact age or gender.
The Palmetto State has recorded 88,523 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began, with 1,346 of those infections announced Friday.
As of Friday, the Bluffton ZIP code of 29910 continued to lead the county with 914 cases.
Beaufort County’s seven-day average of new daily coronavirus cases was 98 Friday — the highest average this year. The county’s lowest seven-day average for new cases was zero on May 9.
DHEC reported that every county but four — Marlboro, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg — discovered 301 new cases or more per 100,000 people between July 14 and July 27.
Roughly 19% of the 7,065 viral COVID-19 tests completed statewide Thursdaywere positive, DHEC says.
Beaufort County could have as many as 21,451 undiagnosed cases, public health officials say.
As of Friday, 78% of ICU beds in South Carolina were in use, according to DHEC. Just over 1,500 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 373 of those people in the ICU. Almost 240 coronavirus patients were on ventilators statewide, DHEC data show.
Positive cases are those in which a patient has been tested for and diagnosed with coronavirus. Because of a lack of access to testing, state health officials have said that for every confirmed case, there could be up to nine people who are infected but have not been tested.
The total count of cases includes anyone who has tested positive since the pandemic started. The data also includes those who have recovered or died.
DHEC’s totals can have small increases and decreases day to day as officials correct discrepancies in the data.
DHEC does not provide an overall, county-by-county number of cases versus the number of people who have recovered. It also does not release any identifying information or specifics concerning underlying conditions someone who dies from the coronavirus may have had.
DHEC counts deaths based on where the patient lives rather than where he or she died.
Coronavirus cases at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are being reported in the 29902 ZIP code.
