14 new coronavirus cases reported in Beaufort County on Saturday; 4 in Jasper County
Fourteen new COVID-19 cases were announced in Beaufort County and another four in Jasper County on Saturday.
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.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported that around 82 percent of Beaufort County’s hospital beds were occupied, with 38 beds available. In Jasper County, there were no beds reported to be available.
Since mid-August, Beaufort County has seen fewer daily cases. But in recent days, the statewide positivity rate in South Carolina has increased.
University of South Carolina Beaufort 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 Friday: 225
Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.3%
Seven-day average of new cases in Beaufort County: 17.2
Total cases: 6,103 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 93 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week incidence rate: 115.6 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 Friday: 13.6%
New cases announced Saturday: 831
Total cases: 167,885 confirmed
New deaths announced Saturday: 36
Total deaths: 3,686 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,534 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 729 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.
