9 coronavirus infections confirmed in Beaufort Co. Thursday amid DHEC reporting delay
Nine new COVID-19 cases were reported in Beaufort County on Thursday.
No additional deaths were announced in the county.
State health officials, though, stressed that the daily case count was “expectedly” low as the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control continues to adjust a database that tracks test results.
The only results included in DHEC’s case count Thursday were emailed or faxed to the agency.
“We remain dedicated to clear and transparent reporting and will provide a breakdown of tests and results for the days impacted by this internal update,” DHEC said.
Wednesday’s case count was also affected by the database issue.
Statewide, just 229 new infections were confirmed Thursday, according to DHEC. That’s one of the lowest daily totals in months.
Since mid-August, Beaufort County has seen fewer daily cases. And DHEC on Thursday again classified the county as having “medium” recent 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 instruction.
The Beaufort County School District plans to begin in-person classes starting Monday.
Jasper County, meanwhile, was also designated as having “medium” recent disease activity on Thursday. The county had “high” activity earlier this week, according to DHEC.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Wednesday: 76
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 9.5%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 16.2
Total cases: 5,644 confirmed
Total deaths: 80 confirmed
Two-week incidence rate: 157.2 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 Wednesday: 13.5%
New cases announced Thursday: 229
Total cases: 143,787 confirmed
New deaths announced Thursday: 20
Total deaths: 3,203 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,388 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,104 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 349 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 661 cases, according to DHEC.
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.
“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.
