11 new COVID-19 cases reported in Beaufort Co. Friday; USCB confirms 9 infections
Eleven new COVID-19 cases were announced in Beaufort County on Friday.
No additional deaths were reported.
State health officials last week designated Beaufort County as having “low” recent disease activity. On Thursday, though, that classification was bumped up to “medium.”
The county has seen an uptick in the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests since Oct. 18.
Since mid-August, Beaufort County has seen fewer daily cases. But some experts fear a surge of infections as cooler weather sets in and flu season begins.
In recent days, the statewide positivity rate in South Carolina has increased.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort, meanwhile, confirmed nine new COVID-19 cases this week among students, faculty or staff, school data show. Sixty-nine cases related to campus have been reported this semester.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Thursday: 124
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.8%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 16.8
Total cases: 6,089 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 90 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week incidence rate: 119.2 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.
Statewide numbers
Percent of positive non-antibody tests reported Thursday: 14.3%
New cases announced Friday: 680
Total cases: 167,057 confirmed
New deaths announced Friday: 7
Total deaths: 3,653 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,528 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,156 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 382 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 726 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 313 cases.
Coronavirus infections at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are included 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.
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.
