26 new coronavirus cases reported in Beaufort County on Sunday; 1 death in SC
State health officials reported 26 more coronavirus cases in Beaufort County on Sunday.
There were no deaths in Beaufort County and one reported in the state. Statewide another 1,319 COVID-19 cases were reported Sunday.
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 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 and staff, school data show. Sixty-nine cases related to campus have been reported this semester.
Local numbers
- Viral test results reported Saturday: 397
- Average percent of positive viral tests in the past week: 7.2%
- Seven-day average of new cases per day in Beaufort County: 16.6
- Two-week incidence rate: 122.8 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 Saturday: 12.2%
- New cases announced Sunday: 1,319
- Total cases: 169,228
- New deaths announced Sunday: 1
- Total deaths: 3,687
Experts fear a possible surge of new infections this fall as schools resume in-person classes. At the University of South Carolina, hundreds of students have already been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 1,541 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,157 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head Island’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 386 cases. The 29926 ZIP code covering the north side has 735 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 317 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.
