3 new COVID-19 deaths, 112 cases announced in Beaufort Co. Wednesday
Three new COVID-19-related deaths were announced in Beaufort County on Wednesday by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The people died on July 30, Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, state officials said. All were described as elderly.
Since the pandemic began, 51 people in Beaufort County have died due to COVID-19, according to data maintained by DHEC and the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
DHEC on Wednesday also announced 112 newly confirmed coronavirus cases in the county. That’s the second-highest single-day increase this year. The state announced 113 new cases on July 30.
The seven-day average of new cases in the county was 82 on Wednesday. The highest average since the start of the pandemic was recorded July 31 at 98. The lowest average was 0 on May 9.
The Bluffton ZIP code of 29910 continued to lead Beaufort County with a total of 978 cases as of Wednesday.
The county had 301 cases or more per 100,000 people reported between July 21 and Aug. 3, DHEC says.
South Carolina has recorded a total of 94,837 novel coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, according to DHEC. The agency announced 1,175 new cases and 45 confirmed deaths statewide Wednesday.
Over 20% of the 5,679 viral COVID-19 tests conducted statewide Tuesday returned positive, DHEC announced Wednesday.
Of 1,443 ICU beds in the state, roughly 78.4% were filled as of Wednesday. Almost 1,470 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 363 of those people in the ICU and 270 on ventilators.
Beaufort County could have as many as 23,589 undiagnosed coronavirus cases, according to DHEC.
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, up to nine people could be infected but have not been tested.
The total case count includes anyone who has tested positive since the pandemic began. 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 that people who die 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.
