1 coronavirus death reported in Beaufort Co. Friday; USCB confirms 7 new infections
Another COVID-19 death was reported in Beaufort County on Friday.
A person described as elderly died Wednesday after contracting the coronavirus, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Sixteen new COVID-19 cases were also announced in the county Friday.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort, meanwhile, confirmed seven new infections this week among students, faculty or staff, school data show. USCB has recorded 53 cases in total this year.
Since mid-August, Beaufort County has seen fewer daily cases. But the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the area has dropped recently. And some experts fear a possible surge of infections as face-to-face instruction resumes at schools.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Thursday: 240
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.7%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 15.4
Total cases: 5,776 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 85 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week incidence rate: 122.3 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 Thursday: 11.4%
New cases announced Friday: 874
Total cases: 150,033 confirmed
New deaths announced Friday: 14
Total deaths: 3,325 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,428 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,131 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 358 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 680 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.
This story was originally published October 9, 2020 at 3:28 PM.
