Beaufort Co. logs record-breaking 227 new COVID-19 cases Friday; 1 death in Jasper Co.
Beaufort County shattered its single-day COVID-19 case record on Friday. The county recorded 227 new cases and five probable infections. No new deaths were announced.
Jasper County confirmed another COVID-19 death on Friday.
A person described as elderly died on Tuesday after contracting the novel coronavirus, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The Lowcountry has reported a surge of cases throughout December and the beginning of January, mirroring other spots around South Carolina and the rest of the country.
The state on Friday also posted a record-breaking case count, with 4,986 newly confirmed infections.
The local outbreak, meanwhile, is now at its worst point since March. Hundreds of cases were recorded last week, shattering records that were again broken Friday. Deaths are quickly mounting, in comparison to last fall. And the county’s seven-day average of new cases reached a peak of roughly 108 as of Friday.
Coronavirus cases are rising across the entire Palmetto State, DHEC data show. Experts have warned S.C. residents to follow public health guidelines, fearing rapid transmission of the novel virus in poorly ventilated buildings.
Vaccine data
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine has a recommended two-dose regimen. Three weeks after getting the first shot, a person would need a second dose.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital on Friday reported 169 new initial inoculations with Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, according to DHEC data. The hospital also reported that 66 second doses were newly administered.
The hospital, which had received 2,450 Pfizer doses, had administered roughly 49% of shots as of Friday, data show.
There is a lag in when vaccine data is published by DHEC. Vaccine providers have up to 72 hours to enter the information into a federal system.
Hilton Head Hospital on Friday reported 99 new second Pfizer dose vaccinations.
Coastal Carolina Hospital as of Friday had administered 209 first shots and 82 second doses.
Gov. Henry McMaster on Tuesday criticized the state’s rollout of vaccines, saying it was too slow. He said South Carolina would set a “hard deadline” of Jan. 15 to complete Phase 1a vaccinations or sign ups. DHEC confirmed that timeline in a statement later Tuesday.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Wednesday (the most recent date for which data is available): 692
Average percentage of positive tests in the past week, as of Wednesday: 28.4%
Total cases: 10,139 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 108 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week cumulative incidence rate as of Wednesday: 714 cases per 100,000 people, a “high” rate under DHEC’s definition. 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, has previously said counties should aim to have a two-week incidence rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people.
Statewide numbers
Percentage of positive non-antibody tests reported Wednesday: 31.8%
New cases announced Friday: 4,986
Total cases: 315,353 confirmed
New deaths announced Friday: 28
Total deaths: 5,217 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 2,782 cases this year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,635 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 761 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 1,243 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 727 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.
This story was originally published January 8, 2021 at 3:44 PM.
