1 death, 19 new coronavirus cases recorded in Beaufort County Wednesday
Another COVID-19 death was announced in Beaufort County on Wednesday.
A person described as elderly died Oct. 1 after contracting SARS-CoV-2, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Nineteen new COVID-19 cases were also confirmed in the county Wednesday.
Since mid-August, Beaufort County has seen fewer daily cases. But the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the area has also dropped recently.
More than 30% of the county’s coronavirus cases last month were identified among 11- to 20-year-olds, according to DHEC data.
Just 13.1% of infections, meanwhile, were recorded among people 61 or older.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported to DHEC Tuesday: 149
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.5%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 11
Total cases: 5,728 confirmed
Total deaths: 83 confirmed
Two-week incidence rate: 119.7 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.
Statewide numbers
Percent of positive non-antibody tests reported Tuesday: 12.9%
New cases announced Wednesday: 556
Total cases: 148,334 confirmed
New deaths announced Wednesday: 27
Total deaths: 3,300 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,415 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,124 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 675 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.
