1 coronavirus death, 8 new infections reported in Beaufort County Tuesday
A COVID-19-related death was reported in Beaufort County on Tuesday.
A person described as elderly died Monday after contracting the coronavirus, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Eight new COVID-19 cases were also confirmed in the county Tuesday.
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 dropped recently. And some health experts fear a possible surge of cases this fall as schools resume face-to-face instruction.
Flu season and colder weather are also causes for concern, experts say.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Monday: 189
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.4%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 9
Total cases: 5,707 confirmed
Total deaths: 82 confirmed
Two-week incidence rate: 114 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 Monday: 12.9%
New cases announced Tuesday: 693
Total cases: 147,800 confirmed
New deaths announced Tuesday: 17
Total deaths: 3,275 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,413 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,111 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 350 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 676 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 should wear a mask in public.
People who are active in the community or those who can’t effectively social distance or wear a mask should be tested for COVID-19 monthly, according to DHEC.
“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.
