3 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Beaufort Co. Friday; 27 cases confirmed
Three new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Beaufort County on Friday.
All of the victims were described as elderly, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. They died on Sept. 8, Sept. 12 and Sept. 16, respectively.
DHEC’s announcement marked one of the highest single-day death totals for the county in recent weeks.
Since mid-August, though, the county has seen fewer daily cases. Twenty-seven cases were confirmed in the county Friday.
DHEC on Monday also reclassified the county as having “medium” disease activity.
But the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the area has also dropped. And some experts fear a possible surge of cases this fall as schools resume face-to-face classes.
Candace Bruder, a spokesperson for the Beaufort County School District, on Friday confirmed that dozens of district athletes from two schools were in quarantine after two people tested positive for COVID-19.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort, meanwhile, has recorded five new coronavirus cases, data show. A total of 21 COVID-19 cases have been connected to the college.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Thursday: 264
Percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 11.7%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 27
Total cases: 5,325 confirmed
Total deaths: 78 confirmed
Two-week incidence rate: 199.9 cases per 100,000 people, “moderate”
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, 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: 12.1%
New cases announced Friday: 766
Total cases: 133,310 confirmed
New deaths announced Friday: 21
Total deaths: 3,010 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,282 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,043 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 328 cases. The 29926 ZIP code covering the north side has 631 cases, according to DHEC data.
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 wear a mask in public.
“Recently, our (case) numbers have been slowly trending downward,” said Dr. Linda Bell, the state’s top epidemiologist, late last month. “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.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 3:50 PM.
