2 COVID-19 deaths, 37 cases reported in Beaufort Co. Friday before holiday weekend
State health officials on Friday reported two new COVID-19-related deaths in Beaufort County.
Both people were described as elderly. They died on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, respectively.
As of Friday, 69 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the county since March, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Thirty-seven newly confirmed coronavirus infections were also announced in the county Friday. Three probable cases were recorded as well.
Since mid-August, the area has seen fewer daily cases, and DHEC classified the county as having “medium” recent disease activity on Monday.
But the percentage of positive coronavirus tests in the county remains high. And experts fear a possible surge of new infections this fall as schools resume in-person classes.
DHEC has also warned of a possible uptick in cases following the long Labor Day weekend.
“People still need to be vigilant,” added Dr. Faith Polkey, chief clinical officer at Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services.
Polkey and Dr. Stephen Larson, owner of Sea Pines Circle Immediate Care on Hilton Head Island, have said that residents must take COVID-19 precautions seriously during the holiday.
Local numbers
Viral and antibody tests results reported Thursday: 248
Percent of positive viral tests last week: 14.3%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 29.4
Total cases: 4,861
Two-week incidence rate: 217 cases per 100,000 people, “moderately high”
An incidence rate measures how quickly a disease is spreading through a given population.
Dr. Scott Curry, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said counties should aim to have a two-week incidence rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people.
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has suggested that governments reopen only after the percentage of positive tests is below 5% for at least two weeks.
Statewide numbers
Percent of positive non-antibody tests reported Thursday: 18.3%
New cases announced Friday: 1,511
Total cases: 121,378 confirmed
New deaths announced Friday: 37
Total deaths: 2,706 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,199 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 940 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Coronavirus infections at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are being reported in the 29902 ZIP code.
More information on Beaufort County ZIP code data can be found at the following link. Click on it, then click on “Go to Cases,” then click on Beaufort County on the S.C. map: bit.ly/BeaufortCountyZIP
What are DHEC’s recommendations?
State health officials say residents should continue to practice social distancing and should wear a mask in public, especially over the Labor Day weekend.
“Recently, our (case) numbers have been slowly trending downward,” said Dr. Linda Bell, the state’s top epidemiologist, in late August. “For that to continue, we cannot let up.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow South Carolina’s coronavirus data is compiled
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s total COVID-19 case count includes anyone who has tested positive since the pandemic began. The data also include those who have recovered or died.
The state agency does not provide an overall, county-by-county number of cases versus the number of people who have recovered.
DHEC counts deaths based on where a patient lives rather than where they died.
