26 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths announced in Beaufort Co. Friday
State health officials on Friday reported 26 new coronavirus cases in Beaufort County, a day after the county saw its first single-digit increase in newly confirmed infections — eight — since early June.
No additional COVID-19 deaths were announced in the county Friday.
Since the pandemic began, 4,655 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the county and 63 have died after being infected, according to DHEC data.
Beaufort County’s seven-day average of new daily cases fell to 24.8 Friday, following a downward trend during most of the month of August and reaching a level last seen in mid-June.
University of South Carolina Beaufort officials said Monday that all 26 members of its women’s soccer team were in quarantine after two team members tested positive.
Following similar moves in other municipalities, Bluffton Town Council voted Wednesday to extend the town’s face mask requirement in public spaces, which will now expire on Nov. 1 if not repealed by the council before then.
The Bluffton ZIP code of 29910 continued to lead the county with 1,160 cases reported as of Friday.
There have been 114,400 confirmed coronavirus cases statewide since the pandemic began, DHEC data show. The health agency confirmed 903 additional cases on Friday and 23 new COVID-19-related deaths across the state. Nineteen of those who died were described as elderly and four were considered to be middle aged.
The disease has resulted in 2,521 confirmed deaths statewide, according to DHEC data.
Just over 5% of Beaufort County’s reported COVID-19 cases have resulted in hospitalization during the pandemic, according to DHEC data last updated Thursday.
About 77% of the county’s hospital beds were occupied as of Thursday.
Across South Carolina, roughly 11.6% of patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, with 246 of those people in an intensive care unit, according to DHEC.
Beaufort County could have as many as 26,464 undiagnosed cases, DHEC officials say.
Positive cases are those in which a patient has been tested for and been diagnosed with the 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 count 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.
The state agency 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 might have had.
DHEC counts deaths based on where a 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.
